V Sunday of Easter:[B]:(2015): Acts 9:2 6-31;1Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15: 1-8

V Sunday of Easter:[B]:(2015): Acts 9:2 6-31;1Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15: 1-8

Introduction:  On this fifth Sunday of Easter, the church reminds us that when we believe and remain in Christ, our true vine, that God lives in us, and we live in Him. So we are invited to reflect on our relationship with Christ the true vine and, also its effect both on our lives and on the lives of others around us. We are also expected to abide in Christ as a condition to bear positive and good fruits.

Exegesis: Saint Paul, once became dramatically converted, his life changed completely. He believed in the name of Jesus Christ and became a great preacher. He did not waste time before bearing fruit for Christ. Immediately, he moved from Saul the persecutor to Paul the preacher of the good news. The consequence of his conversion and firm belief in the name of Jesus was a great harvest of souls which continues till our time because of his writings in the New Testaments. He succeeded because he was a “deeply rooted branch” in Christ the true vine.

Saint John in our second reading says: “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active, only by this can we be certain that we are the children of truth…” John seems to remind us of the popular saying that: “Action speaks louder than words.” We cannot love the word of God without concrete works of charity to show for it. The only way the word of God can bear fruit is through work and truthful living. They are what touches and transforms persons. So by “something real and active,” John means charity and living according to what we profess in Jesus Christ.

The gospel of this Sunday is a call for us to strengthen our relationship with Christ in order to continue to live in Him. The type of relationship that should exist between us and Christ is illustrated using what is natural to us in everyday life. That is the relationship between the trees and their branches. No branch as we see and know can have life or bear fruit on its own unless it is firmly attached to a tree. Likewise, in our spiritual life as Christians, we cannot do without being firmly attached to Christ the vine in whose name we have been baptized. However, it is important to note that remaining in Christ is for a purpose. This purpose is to bear fruit. Instead of a passive action that produces no effects, it means an active and lively action that produces charity, peace, holiness, pure reverence, love for God and our neighbors, and many other good virtues that touch other lives positively.

Joke: Three religious leaders (a rabbi, a priest, and a minister) were all discussing how they divide up tithing income between themselves and God. The minister said, "I draw a line in the sand, throw the money up in the air, and what lands on the left side of the line goes to the good Lord and what lands on the right side goes to me." Then the priest said, "I draw a circle on the ground, throw the money up in the air, and what lands inside the circle goes to the good Lord and what lands outside goes to me." Then the rabbi said, "You got it all wrong! I throw the money up in the air and what the good Lord catches is his and what lands on the ground is mine."

Practical Applications: 1) 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. 2) We need to abide in Christ and let Christ abide in us. Sometimes the mistake we do in spiritual life is putting ourselves in the position of Jesus and we say ‘let all others abide in me. Come on. All of you follow me. Abide in me’. Instead we have to abide in Jesus, then only we can produce the effects and fruits of love.

Introduction: Fifth 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.