Fr. Alex Roman sx
On this fifth Sunday of Easter, the gospel of John tells us that Jesus said: “I am the Vine and you are the branches.” With this metaphor Jesus shows his disciples the importance of a deep union with those who adhere to him, who love and observe his words.
In reality, the vine and the branches are a single plant, they have the same lymph and produce the same fruits. Here speaking of the communion that already exists between him and his disciples, and takes them beyond space and time, so that they embrace the immensity of God. Because the truth is contemplated not just once, it is required countless times for it to be internalized and enjoyed.
For us who live in time, repetition is the principle of life like the heartbeat, the rhythm of breathing... this also works for spiritual life: thus, the word of God always asks to be heard repeatedly, meditated and assimilated; and makes us live and grow day after day. In effect the disciple lives from what he remembers and becomes what he has in his heart. The repetition of the word progressively leads us to become the reflection of the beauty of God.
In the gospel the abundance of fruits of the vine evokes the blessing of messianic times. Also, the vineyard is the same people of Israel that the more they are blessed by God, the more Israel forgets God, and clings to idols. Not responding to God's love means breaking the Covenant with Him, and life is destroyed by themselves who are His vineyard. Now Saint John in this gospel presents to us that the vineyard is Jesus himself. The true vine that bears much fruit. That is, in it the change takes place from vine to vine, from the many to the one, which is at the same time a response from God to man, and from man to God.
In Jesus the new alliance between God and man is indissoluble: Jesus himself is the new alliance, because he is at the same time son of God and son of man. The new people will be formed from the branches united to Jesus, the only vine that produces fruits of love.
Thus, the Church is like branches united to the only vine, it bears the same fruit: in concrete love it lives the life of God, Participating in his full joy.
Have a nice Sunday.
Fr. Alex sx
On this fifth Sunday of Easter, the gospel of John tells us that Jesus said: “I am the Vine and you are the branches.” With this metaphor Jesus shows his disciples the importance of a deep union with those who adhere to him, who love and observe his words.
In reality, the vine and the branches are a single plant, they have the same lymph and produce the same fruits. Here speaking of the communion that already exists between him and his disciples, and takes them beyond space and time, so that they embrace the immensity of God. Because the truth is contemplated not just once, it is required countless times for it to be internalized and enjoyed.
For us who live in time, repetition is the principle of life like the heartbeat, the rhythm of breathing... this also works for spiritual life: thus, the word of God always asks to be heard repeatedly, meditated and assimilated; and makes us live and grow day after day. In effect the disciple lives from what he remembers and becomes what he has in his heart. The repetition of the word progressively leads us to become the reflection of the beauty of God.
In the gospel the abundance of fruits of the vine evokes the blessing of messianic times. Also, the vineyard is the same people of Israel that the more they are blessed by God, the more Israel forgets God, and clings to idols. Not responding to God's love means breaking the Covenant with Him, and life is destroyed by themselves who are His vineyard. Now Saint John in this gospel presents to us that the vineyard is Jesus himself. The true vine that bears much fruit. That is, in it the change takes place from vine to vine, from the many to the one, which is at the same time a response from God to man, and from man to God.
In Jesus the new alliance between God and man is indissoluble: Jesus himself is the new alliance, because he is at the same time son of God and son of man. The new people will be formed from the branches united to Jesus, the only vine that produces fruits of love.
Thus, the Church is like branches united to the only vine, it bears the same fruit: in concrete love it lives the life of God, Participating in his full joy.
Have a nice Sunday.
Fr. Alex sx