Reflection for May 6 Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter: John 15:1-8

Gospel: John 15:1-8

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."

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Reflection:

The story is told of a good man. He was active in the Church, a responsible father and husband. His friends and relatives looked up to him, for he lived a life worthy in the eyes of both God and others. In many ways, we may see a part of ourselves in him—our desire to live rightly, to be faithful, and to honor God in our daily lives.

Yet, there came a time when he became close to a woman, and that friendship slowly grew into an attraction. Little by little, he began to set aside his godly values and gave in to his desires. What once seemed small and harmless gradually took root in his heart. As his covetousness deepened, his family life and personal well-being began to suffer. Before he realized it, he was already living a life marked by emptiness and regret.

Is this not a story that can also be ours?

Oftentimes, we find ourselves choosing our own ways instead of God’s way. We follow our desires, even when we know deep within that they are not aligned with His will. We become stubborn, holding on to what pleases us rather than what leads us closer to Him. In subtle ways, we drift—slowly, quietly—away from the One who gives us life.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine, and God is the vine grower. We are the branches, called to remain in Him. For apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is from Him that all grace flows—grace that strengthens us, heals us, and draws us back when we begin to wander.

But life brings trials and temptations. We face the pull of the flesh, the lure of easy gain, the quiet whisper of worldly ambitions that promise fulfillment but leave us empty. These temptations are real, and they are persistent. Yet, they need not have the power to separate us from Jesus—unless we allow them to.

We are not meant to live disconnected from the true Vine. For it is only in remaining in Him that we find true joy, a peace that the world cannot give, and a love that endures beyond this life.

One day, we will stand before God at the end of our journey. And perhaps He will gently ask us: Did you remain in me? When you were tempted, when you were weak, when you were drawn away—did you return to me?

Are we still firmly connected to the true Vine, or are there desires and choices in our lives that are slowly pulling us away from Him—and what will we do, starting now, to remain in His love?— Marino J. Dasmarinas