The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the signs and images that assist us in deepening our affiliation with Jesus.
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| Branches of Life |
The passage from the Book of Acts tells of the dispute leading to the Council at Jerusalem.
* [15:1–5] When some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem discover the results of the first missionary journey of Paul, they urge that the Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of the Jerusalem church, Paul and Barnabas go there to settle the question of whether Gentiles can embrace a form of Christianity that does not include this obligation.1
Psalm 122 is a song of praise and prayer for Jerusalem.
* [Psalm 122] A song of Zion, sung by pilgrims obeying the law to visit Jerusalem three times on a journey. The singer anticipates joining the procession into the city (Ps 122:1–3). Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God (Ps 122:4) and hear the divine justice mediated by the king (Ps 122:5). The very buildings bespeak God’s power (cf. Ps 48:13–15). May the grace of this place transform the people’s lives (Ps 122:6–9)!2
In the Last Supper Discourse from the Gospel of John, Jesus presents Himself as the True Vine.
* [15:1–17] Like Jn 10:1–5, this passage resembles a parable. Israel is spoken of as a vineyard at Is 5:1–7; Mt 21:33–46 and as a vine at Ps 80:9–17; Jer 2:21; Ez 15:2; 17:5–10; 19:10; Hos 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Ps 80:15 and Wisdom’s description of herself as a vine in Sir 24:17 are further background for portrayal of Jesus by this figure. There may be secondary eucharistic symbolism here; cf. Mk 14:25, “the fruit of the vine.”3
Carol Zuegner shares that today’s Gospel gives her much to think about as she prepares to prune the bushes and plants in her own garden.
I need to cut away the branches that are part of me that represent me cutting corners of integrity, shaving compassion, slicing love – the things where I turn away from God because I choose the path of consumption, greed and selfishness. If I listen, really listen to and heed the word of God in my heart, that word will bear fruit in my actions and my life. Let me listen to the word of God and let it flower within me and grow.
Today’s Gospel also reminds of the Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius. This prayer gets to the heart of Jesus’ words in the Gospel. It is my prayer for today.
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.4
Don Schwager quotes “Cleansed by Jesus' word,” by Basil the Great, 329-379 A.D.
"So the world - life enslaved by carnal passions - can no more receive the grace of the Spirit than a weak eye can look at the light of a sunbeam. First the Lord cleansed his disciples' lives through his teaching, and then he gave them the ability to both see and contemplate the Spirit. He says, 'You are already made clean by the word I have spoken to you' (John 15:3). Therefore 'the world cannot receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows him... You know him, for he dwells with you' (John 14:17). Isaiah says, 'He who settled the earth and the things in it; and gives breath to the people on it, and Spirit to them that tread on it' (Isaiah 42:5). From this we can learn that those who trample earthly things and rise above them become worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (excerpt from ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 22.53)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:1-8 reminds us as the day progresses, we may feel anxiety welling up in us or experience a moment of sadness or find ourselves struggling with temptation. Those are especially important times when we can cry out to God and tell him what’s on our heart and then spend a moment listening to see if he has something to say.
Remaining in Christ really does make a difference. Who knows? If you try it today, you may become aware of an opening to share your faith with a coworker. Or maybe you’ll find the grace to be more patient with a difficult child. The possibilities are endless as you strive to live in him and believe that he lives in you.
“Jesus, you are the vine, I am the branch. May I always be united with you.”6
Friar Jude Winkler describes the success guided by the Spirit of the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles. Accepting the Jewish Messiah may obligate Gentiles to accept circumcision according to Mosaic Law. Friar Jude reminds us of the Eucharistic symbol in the wine as we partake in the nourishment Jesus offers.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that describing God as both mother and father was quite daring in the time of Julian of Norwich. She called Jesus our “true Mother” from whom we receive our beginning, our true being, protection, and love. Even in terms of gender, mystics tend to be expansive.
Our high Father almighty God, who is Being, he knew us and loved us from before-any-time. Of which knowing, in his full marvelous deep Charity, by the foreseeing endless counsel of all the blessed Trinity, he willed that the second Person should become our Mother, our Brother, and our Saviour.
Whereof it follows that as truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother. Our Father wills, our Mother works, our good Lord the Holy Ghost confirms. And therefore it belongs to us to love our God, in whom we have our being . . . for in these three is all our life. . . .
And therein is a forth-spreading, by the same grace, of a length and breadth, of a height and a deepness without end [see Ephesians 3:18–19]. And all is one love. [3]7
Our life in Christ, expressed in liturgy, image and prayer, helps us activate our daily opportunity to experience Him in life events.
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