THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

 

SUNDAY, Fifth Week of Eastertide

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP

Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-28,30-32; 1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8

Theme: The Vine and the Branches

The analogy of the vine is so apt for understanding our relationship to the humanity of Jesus Christ, and his heavenly Father. The vine and its branches form a whole, just as we form a mystical whole with Jesus Christ. This wholeness is realised at our profession of faith in his divinity, for that is what connects us to the root of the Vine; in this case, the Eternal Word who is the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. The humanity of Jesus Christ is rooted in his divine Person and draws life from him. The humanity of Jesus Christ is the visible form of the Eternal Word who is the true knowledge of the Father. Hence, as the Son proceeds from the Father and is one with him in all aspects, in the same way, the humanity of Jesus Christ draws life from the Person of the Word and represents him to us in every aspect. By profession of faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ, we receive his Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of the Son and the Father. The reception of the Holy Spirit connects us directly to the Father through the Son, and we draw life from the Son of Man who draws life from the Son of God who draws life from the Father. The analogy clearly explains the root system of the Christian life. 

The Father, according to Jesus, is the Vinedresser. This name our Lord used for the heavenly Father says much. It makes clear to us that the whole relationship is an expression of the will of the Father which is sacrosanct. As we have reflected previously, the humanity of Jesus Christ is the expression or representation of the Father through being the Sacrament of his Eternal Word. It is first the sacrament of the Eternal Word who is the true knowledge of God the Father. Hence, the humanity of Jesus Christ as the Vine shows forth the will of the Father. The holy will of the Father therefore determines the growth and development of the whole Vine. Because the fruitfulness of the Vine is from the branches, the Father’s holy will which is expressed and active in the word of God watches over or supervises the branches. We are these branches. For the branches to bear plentiful fruits, they must receive heavenly nutrients from the root and stem; that is, from the Eternal Word and the humanity of Jesus Christ. The latter is the Way, and the former is the Truth. The constant supply of heavenly nutrients is possible only through continuous communication between the branches, the stem, and the root. We have constantly expressed this as the need to eat of the real presence of Jesus Christ that is with us always. 

The other requirement for the fruitfulness of the branches is openness to the sun and the surrounding atmosphere. The sun in this case is the divine will manifested through the events of life and our circumstances; we must be open to our reality and environment to take in the energy from the divine will expressed around us. This openness is best when love drives every one of our engagements. This is what the second reading from John’s first letter brings to us. “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 children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence, whatever accusations it may raise against us because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.” We are fruitful when we start loving our brothers and sisters. St. Paul’s encounter with Jesus Christ changed him for good. He made a profession of faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ and started loving the brethren. He started being fruitful to God when he started knowing and doing the will of God revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is our vocation in Christ.

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord, the grace to contemplate your holy word and your real presence with us always, so that we may bear fruits of everlasting life in Jesus Christ. 

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