Providence Spirituality

Gospel of April 28, 2024 according to John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does, he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and will wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Reflection on the Gospel  of April 28, 2024 –

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 15:1-8 –

Lord, without you we can do nothing, we are your branches, you are the vine. Source of love and life. May we always take advantage of your sap to bear fruit, being ever more united to you.

In today’s Gospel we can read the first part of Jesus’ reflection on the parable of the vine. To have a good understanding of it, it is important to pay close attention to the words that Jesus used, as much as to observe a vine, or any plant, and see how it grows its fruit, how its intertwined branches stem from its trunk and how the trunk and branches bear their fruit. We can understand the metaphor Jesus has chosen: any branch that breaks off from the tree will end up dying.

Using the image of the vine, Jesus sheds light upon an essential feature of being Christian: In order to bear abundant spiritual fruit, we need to be united to Him.

Through this parable, we learn from Him how to build, and relate to human beings and to creation in a different way. He teaches us to take the lead in caring for the vine. He invites us to be aware of the reciprocity between the grower and the branches and of the importance of remaining united to Him, together, acknowledging the value of others and to keep learning and growing.

Using the example of the vine and the branches, we learn that to be alive we need to be united to Jesus, and that we cannot do anything without Him, since no one can bear fruit alone. It is vital to be a part of the vine: “I am the vine and you are the branches”.

Jesus is the true divine vine (sap) and without Him we will wither away.

Sister Norma Huerta, SP.

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