May 10, 2009

Today's Gospel: John 15:1-8

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus revealed a reality that we sometimes tend to forget. We are connected to him. Even before we claim him as our Savior, our Redeemer, he has already claimed us as his own. He is the vine, and we are his branches. Even if at times we do not recognize this, it does not change the fact that we are his. Thus, he said whoever abides in him, bears much fruit. It means if we just believe that we are already strongly connected to him as the branches to the vine, we can bear much fruit. It is not some magical recognition that we become more productive once we acknowledge this reality but it is more borne out of being true to who we are. This truth about ourselves liberates us and empowers us to bravely and courageously do things because we know that we abide in Jesus. Our works are his works, and these are all for the glory of the Father. Fear definitely will have no place in our hearts because we have already claimed that our bond with Jesus is as strong as the branches to the vine.

Apart from him, we can do nothing. Yes, but this is NOT a statement of us having a choice of being separated from him. We cannot claim that all our efforts are just our own doing even if we openly reject him or denounce him. The truth still stands, we are his.

Abiding in Jesus is not a matter of choice but a matter of fact. It is a truth that we need to recognize and embrace in order for us to live our lives to the fullest.