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:
The story is told about a good man; he was
active in their church, he was a responsible father and husband. His friends
and relatives look up to him for he lived his life worthy in the eyes of God
and men. However, there was one instance wherein he became friends with a woman
and that friendship created an attraction between them.
He threw away his Godly values and he
coveted the woman. In the process of his covetous desires his family and
personal life started to suffer. Before he knew it he was already living a
miserable life.
This story sometimes happens to some of
us, we sometimes choose to lead our lives our own selfish ways and not God’s
way. Often times many of us are very stubborn in following our worldly caprices
and wants even if we know that what we want is wrong. We follow our selfish
desires and not the desire of God.
In the gospel Jesus tells us that He is
our vine and God is our vine grower. He urges us to remain in Him no matter
what happens in our lives. For through Him emanates all graces. Sometimes there
are instances where we also encounter trials/temptations. We must therefore not
let these trials/temptations be an instrument of our separation from Jesus.
What are these temptations that often
steers us away from God? It’s the temptation of the flesh, the temptation to
engage in corrupt acts to add more numbers to our bank accounts. And there’s a
lot more temptation out there waiting to capture us.
We must not cut ourselves from the true
Vine (Jesus) and the Vine grower (God) for it is only through them that we
would experience true happiness in this world that will outlast our lifetime.
Eventually we will die, perhaps one of the
questions that God would ask us before we are allowed entry into heaven is this:
Did you remain with me in your lifetime? Did you not allow the temptations of
the world cut you off from me; your Vine grower?
How would we answer God then? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
