HOMILY OF 5TH WEDNESDAY OF THE EASTER — YEAR A
HOMILY OF 5TH WEDNESDAY OF THE EASTER — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: ONE WITH THE RISEN LORD
BY: Fr. Isaac Awe
Acts 15:1-6, Ps.122:1-5, John 15:1-8
There is a simple truth here: We are either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing. There is no in-between. But the bearing of healthy fruit requires drastic pruning.
Why does Jesus speak of himself as the true vine? The image of the vine was a rich one for the Jews since the land of Israel was covered with numerous vineyards. It had religious connotations to it as well. Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel as “the vineyard of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:7). Jeremiah said that God had planted Israel “as his choice vine” (Jeremiah 2:21). While the vine became a symbol of Israel as a nation, it also was used in the scriptures as a sign of degeneration.
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Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Israel as a vineyard which “yielded wild grapes” ( Isaiah 5:1-7). Jeremiah said that Israel had become a “degenerated and wild vine” (Jeremiah 2:21). When Jesus calls himself the true vine he makes clear that no one can claim their spiritual inheritance through association with a particular people or bloodline. Rather, it is only through Jesus Christ that one can become grafted into the true “vineyard of the Lord”. Jesus offers true life — the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness.
How does the vine become fruitful? The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit. Vines characteristically have two kinds of branches — those which bear fruit and those which don’t. The non-bearing branches must be carefully pruned back in order for the vine to conserve its strength for bearing good fruit.
Jesus used this image to describe the kind of life he produces in those who are united with him — the fruit of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Jesus says there can be no fruit in our lives apart from him. The fruit he speaks of here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him and allow him to purify us.
PRAYER: Lord, may we be one with you in all that we say and do. Draw us close that we may glorify you and bear fruit for your kingdom. Inflame hearts with your love and remove from it anything that would make us ineffective or unfruitful in loving and serving you as our true source. Amen.
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