Grow and Bear Fruit in Christ

Weekly Missionary Reflection
5th Sunday of Easter, 28 April 2024
Acts 9:26-31; Ps. 22:26b-27,28,30,31-32; 1John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8.

In today’s Gospel reading we are asked to ponder Jesus as the Vine. Some of us might have seen how the workers at the vineyard carefully prune the branches on the vine. They plant the best vine hoping for the best grape yield. In today’s Gospel Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches.

Dear brothers and sisters, as believers we believe that God is the source of love and life. The virtues in our lives come from Him. Only when we realize that God do remain in us, we can share His love to our neighbours. This awareness enables us to love, forgive and sacrifice for the others. I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. The parable of Jesus as the vine has its meaning in this experience. We do live the Christian faith, and the faith emerges and bears fruit in our words, deed and lifestyle.

Without realizing that Jesus is the source of love and life, our goodness and sacrifice will not have its true meaning. People might praise our action, yet we are just like dry branches ready to be pruned for not bearing fruit. Whatever we do is from and to ourselves only. 

Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly realize the presence of God in us. May we never forget that our goodness and love  come from God’s love. May we continously grow in faith and develop in God’s love, like the branches of the true vine. So God’s name will be glorified through our presence. God bless. 

(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

Universal Church Intent: For the role of women
We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.

Indonesian Church Intent: Mental Health
We pray for the sensitivity of our society in recognizing people with mental health and mental disorders and making any effort to assist them in maintaining their faith.

Amen.