Extend His Grace into a Hurting World
A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Brent Smith, Director of Adult Faith Formation & Evangelization
Following the Resurrection, Jesus Christ remains in relationship with his disciples. The past few Sundays, the Gospel has focused on his various reunions with the men and women who look to him as their teacher and Lord. As contemporary disciples ourselves, the lessons and promptings he presents to his own people are still applicable in our lives today. Our success at learning from him and following his commands is dependent upon viewing one’s own life as drawn from his abiding presence.
In the second reading, St. John calls this learning a matter of belief and following as a matter of love, “we should believe in the name of [the Father’s] Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us” (1 Jn 3:23). His own life is offered by the Father and confirmed by the Spirit. As his beloved children, we are called to conform our minds and hearts to the person of Christ.
In the Gospel passage for today, Jesus speaks of himself as a life-giving vine. As we offer ourselves in works of mercy, we extend his grace into a hurting world. May his own words illuminate the mystery of fruitfulness under obedience to Jesus Christ, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit… By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples” (Jn 15:5; 25:8). While the passage identifies God the Father as the one who prunes the branches (you and me), we must cooperate daily with his grace and the demands of sacrificial love.
In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done; in the presence of those who worship you I will offer the sacrifices I have promised (Ps.22:26; Today’s English Version)
Painting by Elin Danielson-Gambogi, “In the Vineyard II" (c.1898, Finland)