In today’s gospel Jesus uses the imagery of a vine to teach us the simple truth that in order to bear fruit we must remain in Him. What does it mean to remain in Him and what is the fruit that results? To remain in Him means to root our identity, our very selves, in His identity. We do this, as St. Paul tells us in the second reading, by keeping his commandments and by seeking to do what pleases Him and by doing it with humility and the understanding that without Him we can do nothing. The resulting fruits of the Spirit include genuine peace, joy, love, gentleness, and patience - fruits that are blessing to ourselves and to others. The bearing of healthy fruit, however, requires “pruning” – enduring life’s struggles with the eyes of faith. As you prepare for Mass reflect on the ways that God is bringing deeper transformation (aka pruning) to you so that you might bear even more fruit and how you respond to that.
