Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (May 14, 2006)

Readings Acts 9: 26-31 Ps 22: 26-27, 28, 30, 31-32 1 Jn 3: 18-24 Jn 15: 1-8

Suggested Emphasis

"We are to believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and are to love one another as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him and he in them."

Salesian Perspective

The scripture passage for today is part of Jesus' farewell discourse to his disciples, which takes up several chapters of the gospel of John. In these words Jesus is communicating to his disciples the most important things he wants them to hang on to, to remember. In a powerful and beautiful extended metaphor, Jesus speaks of himself as the vine and his disciples as the branches. He tells them that they must tie themselves closely to him. In order to be healthy, fruit-bearing branches, they must be willing to be trimmed clean of those growths that keep them from bearing fruit. Above all, they must be part of the vine. If they become separated from the vine, they can produce no fruit. They will become withered and rejected branches, good for nothing but to be burnt.

Jesus makes it clear that the disciples already have been given what they need. They have heard the words he has spoken to them. If they believe the words of life that Jesus has shared with them, if they make his words part of their lives, they will live in him and he will live in them. Hearing the word is the first essential step. But it is only the first step. Living the word, absorbing it, making it an integral part of one's life, must happen if one is truly to thrive as a disciple of Jesus. This is as true for us today as it was for the disciples to whom Jesus spoke and with whom he lived while here on earth.

We, too, have been given God's word. Like the disciples, we too are called to live in Jesus, or to live Jesus, as Francis de Sales said, as we go about our daily tasks. And what is the fruit we are supposed to produce? Our fruit is a life marked by the love of Christ, a life lived in a way that shows our brothers and sisters that we really believe what Jesus told us. It is a life marked by patience and kindness and gentleness and humility.

The way we know that we are living in Jesus and that he is living in us is that we are keeping his commandments. We are called to love "in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it." We can and should read the scriptures and other spiritual books. We can and should meditate on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We can and should say our prayers and make use of the sacraments of the Church. In the end, however, it is how we treat our brothers and sisters that will tell the story. If our words are not supported by our deeds, they are empty and barren words, good for nothing.

If we talk about the forgiveness of Jesus, but hang on to that grudge against an estranged relative for spoiling Christmas dinner ten years ago, we are not living Jesus. If we harbor resentment in our hearts against a colleague that got the promotion we wanted, we are not living Jesus. If we refuse to acknowledge addictive behavior and get help for it, we are not living Jesus. If we delight in gossiping about our neighbor's misfortunes or weaknesses, we have some pruning and trimming to do before we can bear fruit in the name of Jesus.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.