Jesus in today's gospel makes it extremely clear that apart from him, it
is not possible for anyone who professes to follow him to accomplish anything.
So he urges us to remain in him, follow his examples, live his life. If we do,
all our actions will bear fruit, because they are done in his name.
But remaining in him and living his life, also asks for something more
from us. He says, remaining with him will not only allow us to bear fruit, but
we must be pruned because by doing so, we would produce more fruit. What does
that mean for us?
So we follow the steps that Jesus has traced for us. And these steps
would depend on the kind of life that we have chosen to live, whether it is a
life of consecration, a life of single blessedness, a life of commitment in
matrimony. But each type of life calls for dedication, commitment and fidelity.
Our life becomes meaningful only when it is steeped in love since we were
created out of love. And this love should go out to others since we were not
created for ourselves alone.
We become the extension of Jesus in this world. We continue to live his
life, to share his love through our life of service to others, even in a most
simple thing that we can do. Sharing the love of Jesus to others does not ask
much from us. On certain occasions, maybe it does, but on ordinary days it only
takes a loving smile that brings encouragement and acceptance, a simple action
of physically helping a person in need of assistance, saying a kind word to
uplift a person's drooping spirit, or an act or a word of forgiveness to heal a
long-festering psychological wound.
Indeed, the world would be a better and a peaceful place to live in if
we all strive to remain in the loving embrace of Jesus--- that is, like a
branch remaining attached to the vine, so as to bear fruits that would last.
Jesus said pruning is necessary to bear more fruits. It means that
difficulties and trials---which are a reality in our earthly life---should not
bring us down. Instead they should become challenges for us to overcome, of
course, with Jesus's help, since we cannot do it by ourselves alone. Life's
difficulties strengthen us and transform us to be persons of integrity and deep
faith.
Life's challenges come to us in various sizes and types. God in his
infinite wisdom knows what we can bear and how our experience can transform us
into better and loving persons he wants us to be. We only have to ask him to
stand by us and hold us by the hand when the sailing gets rough. He says,
"remain in me, and my words will remain in you." He also comforts us
with his promise: "ask for anything you want and it will be done for
you."
