YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (8)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

HOMILY THEME: I AM THE VINE AND YOU ARE THE BRANCHES, CUT OFF FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING

BY: Fr. Cosmas Ukadike CM

 

HOMILY:

As the church continues in her celebration of the Easter tide, God’s word presents us today with another title of Jesus; “The True Vine”. “I am the true vine” (Jn 15, 1) is the last of the seven “I am” declarations of Jesus recorded only in John’s Gospel.

These “I am” proclamations point to His unique divine identity and purpose. Jesus made this proclamation to his apostles and by extension to all those who would come to believe in him, shortly before his ascension into heaven.

He wanted to reassure his followers that even though they would not see him physically as they used to, he would however still be united with them in His spiritual reality. Jesus wanted us to know that, even though we cannot see him, we are as closely connected to him as the branches of a vine are connected to its stem.

The desire to know him, to love him and to serve him will keep running in and through us as long as we “abide in him” (Jn 15, 7). To abide or remain or be part of Jesus is to stay constantly connected to him. In order words, it is to remain evergreen for fruitfulness. It was for this reason that Jesus insisted that “cut off from me, you can do nothing” (Jn15, 5). This is an absolute truth; no believer can achieve anything of spiritual value outside of Christ. “For it is in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17, 28).

Practically speaking we cannot succeed in our ventures without a total dependence on him who is the source of life and strength to carry on daily.

We can therefore see that our whole life and all that life would afford, heavily depends on Jesus Christ the True Vine. And the author of the letter to the Hebrews would refer to him as the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12, 2).

Today, Jesus the True vine is communicating to us his branches, the will of the father for us: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (Jn 15, 8). We pray that God’s Holy Will for us may be accomplished in our lives as we remain a dedicated part of Jesus-the true vine.

Have a blessed week.                           Fr. Cosmas Ukadike, C.M.

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