Daily Gospel Reflection

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May 1, 2024

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Jn 15:1-8
Listen to the Audio Version

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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 everyone 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 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

Anne Milne Acosta, MA '09
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I am currently listening to the Chronicles of Narnia with my children on our commute to and from school. In the story, the children should follow the instructions of Aslan (who represents Jesus) and repeat them every night and morning so they don’t forget what he has asked them to do.

But the children in Narnia have gotten bored, tired, and distracted and have stopped remembering Aslan every day. I don’t remember exactly what will happen next in the story, but I can tell that things are about to start going badly for them. As I listen, I roll my eyes at the children’s foolishness.

Of course, they have to stay connected to Aslan! If they don’t, terrible things will happen, and they won’t be able to accomplish the mission that was given to them. Meanwhile, despite my eye-rolling, it occurs to me that I have begun to slack in my own commitment to pray every morning and evening because I, too, am bored, tired, and distracted.

To no one’s surprise, I have noticed that this corresponds directly to an increasing inability to remain patient and loving toward the children who have been entrusted to me and whose care, at the moment, is the primary mission God has for me.

In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that unless we remain in him, we can do nothing. If we don’t make time to spend with him every day, not just reading about him (which is my temptation) but talking with him from the heart, we will fail at the work he has given us.

Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, a man who chose to remain in Jesus and was, therefore, able to accomplish the great work the Lord had for him. St. Joseph, pray for us that we may always remain in Christ.

Prayer

Rev. Michael Belinsky, C.S.C.

Lord, you made us your disciples through baptism, and you continue to confirm our faith through the Word and Sacrament. Draw us closer to yourself, as branches to the vine, by every measure of grace and in every moment of our days. As always, we ask that you help us to trust in the presence of your Spirit and the mystery of the cross, our only hope. We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!