John 15, 1-8:
“As a branch cannot bear fruit but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”
Today Jesus compares himself to a vine, whose branches we are.
A vine that the Father looks after with care and affection so that it produces the desired and expected fruit.
Jesus puts two conditions for the fruitfulness of the vine:
1: PRUNING: cut everything that can prevent the abundant circulation of sap for the plentiful abundance and quality of the bunch of grapes.
2: REMAIN IN HIM: separated from Him, we can do nothing. Cut off from the trunk of the vine we are called only to sterility and dryness.
Today, think of everything that you need to cut out so that the life of Jesus circulates freely in your life and you can produce good fruit.
Don’t be afraid of pruning. At the beginning it might be painful to do away with certain things. But, in the long run, the fruit of your life will be better.
It also ensures your permanence in the True Vine. Remain in Christ through prayer, in the deep encounter with his Word, your frequent participation in the Eucharist and in the sacrament of forgiveness.
Good day.
Antonio Sanjuan Marin, cmf