Christ, The True Vine

 Reflection on Today's Readings,  Wednesday of 5th Week of Easter,  Year B, May 5th,  2021
Texts: 15:1-6; Ps. 122:1-5; John 15: 1-8
Jesus reminds us once again today that we are to be in Him to be alive. He tells us that He is the true vine and we are the branches. He is the true vine because only in him we can attain our full potential, become whom we are meant to be, and gain eternal life. Only in Him we have life and have it to the full. Hence, He says, "The thief comes only to destroy, I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). It also reaffirms His position that He is the truth, the way and the life (John 14:6).  Then, being His branches, outside Him we have no identity, we are lost into eternal darkness, the hell fire. As the vine He is our life, the sustainer of our existence. Being the vine, it is from Him we derive the nourishment to be productive and fruitful. Being His branches, we are parts of Him; His life and strength run through us. Being His branches, our lives are dependent on Him; we cannot exist outside Him.
We are His branches when we are in Him. When we are in Him, we enjoy the care and love of His Father, for He is the vinedresser. A vinedresser is one who cultivates and prunes the vine; he clears it of weeds, manures it and  prunes it. The relationship between God and His people is sometimes depicted in the image of vine owner and the vineyard, where God is the vine owner or vinedresser. God once said, "Israel is my vineyard; I, the Lord, will tend the fruitful vines; every day I’ll water them, and day and night I’ll watch to keep all enemies away" (Is. 27:3). When we are in Jesus Christ, we become fruitful vines that enjoy God's cares, love, favour, graces, protection, goodness and blessings.
We are in Christ when we abide in His words and His words abide in us. This means His word has to take flesh in us; we have to become the living word of God, a living scripture. In today's gospel reading, Jesus says, "You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
When we are in Jesus, we enjoy the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity and truth. He reveals the truth and brings the Church together in time of crisis. Today's first reading tells us of the period that the Church was trying to define her identity. The Holy Spirit guided the Church during the period. Hence, the parties agreed thus: "And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question." They set before us a good example; they teach us to submit to legitimate authority.

Lord Jesus Christ, fill us with your love that we may abide in you and your word in us. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke