On this 5th Sunday of Easter, Jesus reminds us, “Cut off from me you can do nothing”. No branch can bear fruit all by itself, it must remain part of the vine. The branch and the vine must remain linked together. Likewise, we must make ourselves available to Jesus, the source of all peace and reconciliation in the world.  Jesus reminds us again, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them will bear much fruit.”  Without God, we can do nothing.

In this passage, Jesus teaches his disciples that his relationship with them will not end after his death. He will remain with them always. This unity between Jesus and his disciples is the basis for their ability to continue to do the work that he began. Similarly, Jesus’ presence with us through the Gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to continue the work of love and reconciliation that he began. Jesus also teaches his disciples about the importance of the words he has taught to them. Just as Jesus will remain in the disciples, so too will his words. We come to know Jesus through the Scriptures, the living Word of God. Our commitment to being Christ’s disciples is sustained through God’s Word. Jesus dwells in us, remains with us, and transforms us so that we might bear fruit in his name.

Our relationship with Jesus must be rooted in prayer. The goal of our life of prayer is to increase our awareness that Jesus lives with us always. Prayer is more than a dialogue with God; prayer is a lifting of our minds and hearts to God so that God might dwell and act within us and through us. Our life of prayer and our union with Jesus will lead us to fruitful service to others. Many times, we must ask ourselves, “Why does God love us so much?” Sometimes we ask ourselves if we are worthy to have so close to us?  

Jesus reminds us that he has come so that we may be one. It is God who created us, loves us, and calls each of us by name. We can never predict how and where God will speak to us. God’s voice always leads us back to his love. The parable of the vine and the branches is our story.  It is a story of a people who are so connected to God that we strive to be one with him.  Jesus reminds us that even with this connection there is still some “pruning” that is involved. Even with our closeness with God, there are still things that must be “pruned” so that we can bear much fruit. Jealousy, anger, hatred, selfishness, and ego. All these must be trimmed so that the true image of God inside each of us might come to life.