V Sunday of Easter [B] (2012) Acts9: 2 6
-31; 1JOHN 3:18-24; Jn 15: 1-8
Introduction: Today’s scripture selections emphasize
the need for Christians to abide in Christ as a condition for producing fruits
of kindness, mercy, charity and holiness.
Scripture lessons: The first reading, from the
Acts of the Apostles, testifies to the abundance of spiritual fruits yielded by
the apostles because of their close bond with the risen Lord. Many of the
Jews, because they were under Roman occupation, had two names- a Roman name and
a Jewish name. Thus Paul also had the
name Saul. Most of the time he is called
Paul, but occasionally, as in today’s first reading, he is called Saul. First reading tells us how the Lord pruned
the former Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, a fanatic who had persecuted the Church,
to produce a fruit-bearing branch called Paul, the zealous Apostle to the
Gentiles, entirely dedicated to the proclamation of the gospel. Even
Paul’s forced return to Tarsus
In today’s second reading, John, in
his first letter to the Church, explains that only if we remain united to
Christ by putting our faith in him and drawing our spiritual strength from him,
will we be able to obey God’s commandments, especially the commandment of love.
In the gospel, taken from the Last Supper discourse,
Jesus uses his favorite image of the vine and branches to help his disciples
understand the closeness of their relationship with him and the necessity of
maintaining it. They are not simply rabbi and disciples. Their
lives are mutually dependent - as close as a vine and its branches. In
fact, in using this image, Jesus is explaining to them and to us what our
relationship with him should be like.
JOKE :# 1: The Usher: An elderly woman walked into
the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped
her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.
"The front row please," she answered. "You really don't want to
do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."
"Do you happen to know who I am? I'm the pastor's mother," she
declared indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" the usher asked. "No."
she said. "Good," he answered.
Exegesis : St. Paul
Life messages: 1)We need to abide in Christ
and let Christ abide in us: The four gospels teach us how to become true
disciples of Jesus and how to abide in him as branches abide in the main trunk
of the vine drawing their life from it. Personal and liturgical
prayers, frequenting of the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation,
daily and meditative reading of the Bible and selfless, loving acts of
kindness and mercy and forgiveness enable us to abide in Jesus, the true
vine, as fruit-bearing branches. 2) We need pruning in our Christian life.
Cutting out of our lives everything that is contrary to the spirit of Jesus and
renewing our commitment to Christian ideals in our lives every day is the first
type of self-imposed pruning expected of us. A second means of pruning is to
practice self-control over our evil inclinations, sinful addictions and
aberrations. Cordial mingling with people of different cultures, races,
religions and orientations in our neighborhood and society enable us to prune
our selfish and prejudicial tendencies as we treat others in the society with
Christian charity and openness. Jesus prunes, purifies and strengthens us by
allowing us to face pain and suffering, contradictions and difficulties with
the courage of our Christian convictions.
V Sunday of Easter : Message:
Saul witnesses the risen Jesus and boldly proclaims his Lordship. We proclaim our belief in Jesus by our love
for one another. He is the vine and we
the branches. Together let us praise his
name in our assembly of worship.
Saints in this week:12th Saturday : Saints Nereus and Achilleus,
martyrs; Saint Pancras, martyr.
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