5th Sunday of Easter (“B”)
May 10, 2009

Q. 527: The gospel today (John 15:1-8) speaks of remaining “on the vine.” Are not all Christians attached to the vine which is Jesus?

A. 527:
Several years ago a preacher friend in the state of Washington (Rev. Donald Hoffman) used a pregnant line of prose that I will never forget. He said: “Staying attached to the vine is easier for a Grape than for a Human.” I have reflected on that bit of wisdom many times over the years.

Today we have a lot of folks who claim to be “vine-clingers.” In other words, they “say” that they are Christian – but then they insist on upholding attitudes and practices that make that claim a statement of sheer hypocrisy. Examples abound! They see nothing wrong with killing babies in the womb; they encourage capital punishment in a society that can be protected many other ways; they endorse homosexual “marriages” and relationships that cannot produce new life (which is the fruit of a true sacrament of marriage); they support only those values that agree with their opinions, rejecting anything called “absolute” truth.

It is easy to “finger point” at those who disagree with the absolute moral values upheld by the Tradition of the Catholic Church ever since the days of the Apostles. But we must remember that the very souls of dissenters are at risk. Accordingly, our mission as baptized disciples of Christ must also include praying that the Holy Spirit transform them (and us) into the image of Jesus. All of us need pruning, to enable God’s word to bear fruit in our lives. Our gospel is very clear today: one cannot bear fruit unless one remains on the vine – i.e., remains “in Jesus,” faithful to the Tradition and its values that have been passed down from Jesus to the Apostles to their validly ordained successor bishops, and then to us. Be humble! Remember that the Grape has an easier job that we do!

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! The Holy Spirit desires to work within us, and will teach us to understand absolute truths if we will permit him (CCC #737). How receptive are you to the teachings of the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops (CCC #861,862)?

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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