2024-04-28 06:11:40
Abide in Me.
Dear friends, peace and good.
After having reflected on the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, we move on to contemplate Jesus as the true Vine. One flock, one vine. Good examples, to think regarding what Christ should mean to each of us.
We continue walking with the early Church. We assist its development and growth, with great acceptance, encouraged by the Holy Spirit. We once once more encounter a familiar figure: Saul, the persecutor, has become Paul, herald of Christ. The Christians of Damascus distrust him. Justly. He had gone to their city to disband them, arrest them, and take them to Jerusalem. It is normal that it inspired “prevention” in them. Luckily Barnabas is a little more open and accepts God’s will.
God’s gaze is not like that of men. To us it seems difficult, if not impossible, for people to change. But what seems impossible to us is not impossible to God. That is why the most evil man can end up being a saint. And vice versa. The worst thing, perhaps, to be able to change, is to escape the suspicion of the so-called “good guys”, the distrust regarding the rectitude of the behavior and intentions of the one who changes. I hope we do not trip up those who want to walk towards Him, because they want to stop being sinners.
In word and deed. Not just in thought. The apostle John wants us to love with what we say and what we do. Not only in words, as the prophet Isaiah denounced in his time: “this people praises me with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Is 29, 13)
Perhaps, if we review our life, we will see that we have not always been faithful to the word given. That, many times, our strength goes through our mouths, we fall into the same mistakes, we persevere in our defects and the bad habits acquired condition us. And, therefore, we tell ourselves that nothing can change, we condemn ourselves before the trial. Because we think that God also criticizes us and condemns us. And it is not like that.
What Saint John reminds us today is that, if we are capable of loving despite everything, we are fulfilling the commandments, and we can feel and be proud of being children of God, as the Gospel reminded us last week. And that God is able to see the love we have, that we put in each act and in each of our relationships. He wants our salvation, he does not seek our condemnation.
In the Gospel we see the Good Shepherd from another point of view, as a true Vine. Sweet, abundant fruits are expected from the vine. From the branches that are the Disciples, fruits of love and justice are expected. In order for there to be good fruits, it is necessary to dedicate time to the cultivation and care of the vine. Jesus himself acts as a vinedresser, pruning and cutting everything that does not allow us to grow. It is hard to suffer pruning, but if everything that does not allow us to grow is cut, such as pride, laziness, anger, in short, our small and big sins, then the purification is worth it.
It is in this way, inserted in the vine, clean of dry and unproductive branches, that we can bear much fruit, how we can be bearers of the love of God and even go so far as to give our lives for Him. Following His example, united to Him like the branch to the vine
Not everything is easy on this path. We look at the cross, and we understand how difficult it is to go to the end. But, united to the vine, we can do everything. It is already difficult to live, but it is even more complicated to live as a Christian. But those moments of difficulty can be our pruning, moments of purification. This increases the possibility of bearing fruit.
We have to understand that the advancement of the Kingdom depends on our little or much fruit. Christ gave his life for everyone. Our union with the vine makes us spokespersons and continuers of the Master’s work. Because we are all brothers in Christ, children of the same God. That is why it is important to take care of our growth, so that the vine does not stop growing.
In this way, throughout these Easter weeks we have reflected on the primitive community, the Nascent Church, which helps to find the Risen One, recognizes Him in the Eucharist and feels Him close in the pastors of that Church. Now, the sap that the vine nourishes us with encourages us to continue growing to be witnesses and speak to the whole world of the great love that God has for us. The Apostles already did it. It’s your turn.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro Carbajo, CMF
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#Commentary #Sunday #Easter
