5th Sunday of Easter (Year B) - Abiding in Jesus
Gospel - John 15: 1-8
When someone is about to leave us or
when their on their death bed, we would want to hear their last words of advice and wishes,
and if possible we would do our very best to fulfill them.
For the coming 2weeks, the Gospel
readings including those of Sunday would be on the last discourse of Jesus to
his disciples before he was put to death, taken from the Gospel of John as a
preparation for us for the feast of the ascension and Pentecost. We as disciples
of the Lord are once again reminded to take heed of his words and see how we
can fulfill his wishes for all humanity.
The words of consolation and
encouragement which our Lord spoke to his Apostles on Holy Thursday night were
intended to console and encourage all his followers for all time. They
encourage and console us today, and we need encouragement to persevere on the
road to heaven. Living a truly Christian life is never easy. We have always the
attraction of the world and thus leading us to temptations where we make bad
choices and eventually face consequences of our wrong choices. There are also
sufferings, trials and persecutions that a Christian faces and this is so real
especially in our present time. The Christians of our generations faces more
persecutions in many various forms than those Christians of the early
centuries. I am sure, you are all aware and also seen on news and reports on
the IS movements at the Middle East and their persecutions to others especially
Christians. The crucifixions, beheading, rape and abuses by them have angered
many and left us all in a state of despair and shock that such crimes are still
taking place in our modern and develop world. We are not far from all this,
back home in our country, the scene is same though the forms of persecution are
different. The restrictions of certain words and religious symbols can also be
considered as a kind of persecution.
Now for a normal follower of a cult,
or a philosophy or beliefs system they will feel so angry, frustrated and
annoyed that they have to face such trials and tribulations, but for a good
Christian, though this religious journey in life can be at times frustrating
and difficult to bear, nevertheless they take it on gladly and in good faith
and these Christians willingly give up their comforts even to the extent of
giving up their life. These Children of God, the martyrs who gives up their
life for the love of God and all people to becomes witnesses of the Kingdom of God had
expresses their love not by mere words and talk but something real and active
in their life as mentioned in the 2nd reading today.
Have you ever wondered how these
witnesses are able to take up their crosses and still be able to follow Christ?
Does it surprised you that there are martyrs that freely step forward on behalf
of others to be burned alive or to be beheaded. Dear friends, they are able to
face all trials and tribulations due to their good and close relationship with
God. The relationship with God is their strength.
This shows that Christianity is not
mere a religion but a relationship with God. And one of Jesus’ most vivid and
powerful illustrations for the believer’s relationship with him is the vine and
branches. Just as branches can only bear fruit if they abide in the vine, so
the only way believers can glorify the Father through fruitful lives is by
abiding in Jesus.
To abide has to do with the concept of
'being' instead
of 'doing'.
Doing in relation to the Christian life is: reading your Bible, going to
church, praying, witnessing, doing good works, fleeing sin, etc. These are all
good things to do as a Christian. These are things we should be doing. If we
are not doing these things our walk with God and others will suffer.
However, if we are doing these things
just because we are suppose to, or we are doing them in our own strength, we
will not have victory or peace and miss out in having an intimate relationship
with Christ. If we are not careful, we can become works oriented instead of
Christ oriented. For an example a parish leader or youth leader or even a
legion of Mary leader can go all around ‘doing’ good works, but then goes
around slandering and causing chaos among members, is that a witness of abiding
in relationship with God?
To Abide in Christ is to be in the
'being' mode. We still are doing the things that God has called us to, but we
are doing it in His strength. Abiding in Christ is about having an intimate
relationship with Him. The relationship is more important than the things we do
or don't do. The more we are abiding in Him, the more we will be faithful. We
will hear His voice clearer, not be works oriented, and have more peace in our
life. To abide is to experience His presence. And when we are abiding in God’s
love we will bear good fruits in our life, ministry and with those people
around us.
This picture of the vine and branches
is a rich metaphor that needs unpacking. The vine
is Jesus, while we (believers, disciples) are the branches. The Father, Jesus says, is the vinedresser (v. 1) – that
is the gardener who tends the branches. He prunes the fruitful branches so they
will bear more fruit (v. 2), and takes away the unfruitful branches, throwing
them into the fire (v. 2, 6). The unfruitful
branches appear to be nominal disciples: people who outwardly
follow Jesus for a time, but fail to bear fruit. The fruit we are called to
bear includes both the fruit of transformed character and fruitfulness in
evangelism as we bear witness to Jesus and his work.
There are two things implied when we
say we have to abide in Jesus as branches in the vine. They are: connection, and dependence.
1. Connection
Abiding in Jesus first of all means
having a life-giving connection to him. A branch is connected to the vine, and
a vine to the branch. This is what theologians frequently describe as “union
with Christ.” Notice that this connection, this union, is mutual. We abide in
him and he abides in us (v. 4). If there is no connection, there is no life, no
fruit.
2. Dependence
The branch is dependent on the vine,
but the vine is not dependent on the branch. The branch derives its life and
power from the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless,
powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water,
minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. And believers receive the “sap” of
Christ’s grace through our life-giving connection to him. We are completely
dependent upon Jesus for everything that counts as spiritual fruit (v. 4).
Apart from him, we can do nothing (v. 5).
Dear friends, never grow tired of
abiding in God. In fact let us strive all the more to abide in him. And when
while growing in the vineyard of the Lord but we still encounter some sort of
trials and tribulations, fear not, for as the Gospel says today; even those
branch that does bear fruit, God still prunes to make it bear even more fruit.
So let us pray, that we may remain in him, we may abide in His love and all
that we do and say is for the Greater Glory of God’s name, for God’s kingdom.
