Today is the fifth Sunday of Easter. In the first reading, Acts 9:26 - 31, we hear about Saul who wants to become one of God’s disciples. The other Disciples are scared of Saul because he was known to be someone who attacks and murders Christians. Barnabas had to explain to the Disciples that the Lord had spoken to Saul. Once Saul encounters the Lord, Saul is changed and now speaks out boldly in the name of Jesus. Saul’s eyes have been opened and he understands who Jesus truly is. The Apostles have learned to trust Saul because Saul now understands that without Jesus he can do nothing.
The second reading, John, 3:18 - 24, advises us to keep all of God’s commandments and do what pleases God. We should believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as Jesus has taught us. If we continue to follow his directives, we are living our lives as God has requested.
In John’s gospel today, Jesus tells the Disciples that He is the true vine and that God is the vine grower. Jesus goes on to state that each branch must remain in Jesus as HE remains in each of us. A branch cannot bear fruit on its own, unless it remains on the vine. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus clearly states that without him we can do nothing.
We see this continuing theme that without Jesus we are lost. We, as people of Faith, must remain strong in our faith in God. We must continue to listen to the word of God and also share the word of God with others in order to be productive followers of Jesus. If we do remain strong in our devotion to Jesus and to our Faith we will be fruitful, like the vine. If we do not remain faithful we will wither and then be thrown into the fire to be burned. Jesus tells us that if we remain in him and in His word, God our Father will be glorified.