5th Sunday of Easter (Abide in Me)

Many of you have undoubtedly noticed above the main doors of our cathedral, a large 3-section window above the main entrance. It was added in 1950 and is comprised of a black and gold image with Jesus at its center. Around him are beautifully ornate swirls of vines, lush with leaves and grapes. Directly beneath Jesus are the words we just heard, “I am the vine, you are the branches”.

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples on Holy Thursday, using an image that would have been very familiar to Jews: a vine and its branches. In the scriptures God’s chosen people, Israel, were likened to a vineyard with God as the vineyard owner (Isaiah 5). Coins used during the Jewish Maccabean dynasty were stamped with an image of a vine, and even the Temple had a great golden vine carved onto its exterior wall. Today Jesus speaks of himself as the true vine, bearing sweet grapes, with his followers as his branches.

This sounds beautiful, but also in this passage, Jesus speaks of how the vine is to be pruned—that is some parts of it are cut away, in order to give it better long-term health, better fruit. Thus, disciples of Jesus—his branches—are also to be pruned. For us, this pruning becomes manifest in the difficult movements and changes that come with being part of this vine—that is, being part of the Church, Jesus’ body. Sometimes, it’s things that we’ve come to appreciate and are familiar, and yet they reach a point where they have to be either shelved or left behind. This pruning can leave us with feelings of loss, wondering why.

As we’re soon to experience significant changes throughout the Archdiocese, we’re being pruned. But it’s intended that it will give way to new fruit, better long-term health. But admittedly, it makes us uneasy as so much of it lies ahead of us and for now comes with uncertainties and will demand that we do things differently.

As branches grafted to the vine that is Jesus, we are connected to each other, through him. While being connected to one another is not always easy—this family of unlikely members that we are—it is essential, and it is our strength.

Jesus told his disciples and thus, tells us: Remain in me. The Greek word meno, which we translate as remain, is perhaps better translated as abide. Abide in me. More than just remaining or staying put, abide implores us to stay connected to Jesus, just as a branch draws life-giving nutrients from the vine.[1]

 Only if you and I abide in Jesus through cultivating a life of prayer, through studying what he said and what he did, through intentionally trying to live like him, through desiring to be united to him and strengthened by him in the grace of the sacraments he left us, but also by abiding in and contributing toward the parish community—only then can we bear greater fruit, especially as it involves the pruning that life in him demands, both in our lives and in the life of the Church. Abide in him.

[1] Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle B). Word on Fire. Kindle Edition.