Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 05-06-12, Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Gift of Time

Pastor’s Column

5^th Sunday of Easter

May 6, 2012

“[My Father] takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

And every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”

John 15:2

Last year I received a very unusual gift from an old friend—a five-decade rosary with different dates on each decade. It is an intriguing gift that I have pondered often. On the first decade, the day of my birth is listed (one number per bead); then my baptism day on the second decade beads (which was the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary!); then first communion; then ordination to priesthood. But the last decade was blank—no date! I thought she had made a mistake when making this rosary for me.

Why in the world did the last decade have no date? Because it records the date of something that has not occurred yet – the day of my death! It is just a bit creepy to see that blank spot – but in reality, our whole life is summed up by what happens on the last day of our lives, a day we would just as soon not look at much of the time.

The most precious gift God has given us in this world is the gift of time. We only get so much of this! Imagine – some babies get only a few hours to live, while others live well past one hundred. Time is given to us, in the end, so that we will have the freedom to choose – by our faith and by our life – to be for God (or against him). As long as we live, God will never take away our free will.

At the moment of death, our free-will, and the time to choose God in faith, will come to an end. The Lord will then reveal to the soul all of the choices that it has made, from early childhood to the last breath. The soul will see all the ways it has influenced others and made a difference in the circumstances and events that this soul was given in life. It will also see the many ways God was present to the soul, helping it and guiding it on a journey that was meant to lead home to God. Each choice we make while we still live in time is forming us into the kind of being we will be in eternity!

If only we could appreciate now how precious this gift of time really is. How true it is that our entire future may be dependent on one decision freely given. Such moments are often not recognized until they are past. When Jesus prunes us by means of sufferings and trials, he does this so that we will enter eternity with more fruit. Everything he allows or wills in our lives he does because he sees how limited our time on earth really is; and he wishes us to make the most of it before the last date is entered on the rosary of significant dates in our lives.

Father Gary

5th Sunday of Easter" Life in Christ, Community and Sacrament

"I am the vine and you are the branches . . ."

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050612.cfm

Acts 9: 26 - 31

1 Jn 3: 18-24

Jn 15: 1-8

Have you ever wondered about your family tree? Your ancestry or geneology? Exploring past generations of grandparents, great-grandparents, and generations as far back as possible of folks we’ve never met to whom we are related makes for fascinating study. We hope the good genes of the past were passed on to us and we somehow reflect the virtues or fame of our ancestors.

Wouldn’t we want to be descended from famous royalty rather than infamous bad guys? We would love to brag a bit about my great –great- great- grandfather who fought courageously in the Civil War or farther back signed the Declaration of Independence or at least knew someone who did. Or what about coming over on the Mayflower with the early Pilgrims? For some there may be a revelation farther back.

Last year, after a Sunday Homily in which I pointed to the example of St. Thomas More as an illustration of heroic virtue, one parishioner came up to me and humbly shared a discovery about her family tree. She was related to the saintly Thomas More through her mother’s side of the family. There’s an ancestor anyone of us would be proud to have. It is all about relationship, shared life and our identity as a people.

This Sunday we hear of a well-known image that Jesus used – that of the vine and the branches. “I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower . . . I am the vine, you are the branches . . .” (Jn 15: 1-8). It is an agricultural image with which Jesus’ audience would have been immediately familiar. The image of the vineyard was another name for the ancient people of Israel.

To our minds, if we live anywhere near grape growing country and bountiful vineyards, as we do here, this familiar metaphor may bring to our taste buds rich Cabernet’s and dry Chardonnay’s. But this is about much more than one’s wine tasting palate.

In a true sense it is about our spiritual family tree and about the very source of life that flows from Christ to every one of us when we remain loyal to our faith. As Jesus reminds us: “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing . . . “(Jn 15: 1-8).

Grafted on the vine of Christ and in forever relationship to one another through baptism and a shared common faith, we draw life and produce fruit (good works and virtue) abundantly in a way that no other relationship can do for us.

The fruit produced are lives of holiness, goodness, virtue, courage, charity. But it is also clear that this is not about “Jesus and me.” It is very much about “Jesus and we.”

Have you ever noticed that when speaking of this fruit we never speak of “a grape.” We always refer to them as “grapes.” What could you do with a grape?

In the plural sense and in bunches at the grocery store we find them bagged and we know that one makes fine wine only through the juice and fruit of many grapes. Only through a joint effort of many grapes, many hands, and many hours of painstaking care and experience does one bottle bring joy to its’ tasters.

In the same way, our first reading for this Sunday (Acts 9: 26-31) reveals the excitement of the early Church as the Holy Spirit bore much fruit among believers: “The church . . . was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” Not just a few but in the thousands.

Jesus’ image of the vine and the branches brings hope to every one of us who find ourselves in those moments of isolation, doubt, lukewarmness, or in times when we struggle to love the Church that may appear to be producing scandal rather than holiness.

Yet, in three ways, it seems to me, we draw life as Christians: from Christ, in Community, and in our sacramental life we are joined together like branches on the vine. For us Christian/Catholics we are blessed with a rich and lively spirituality.

In Christ we draw life from the branches of faith as he makes himself present to us through the relationship we share with our brothers and sisters in community. In the sacraments, particularly in our weekly celebration of the Eucharist the Church comes together and we share fellowship but most importantly the very mystical presence of the risen Christ as we break bread when we eat his body and drink his blood. That life, his life, flows through us like blood through a body or water in a river.

How and where do I see myself as connected to Christ and my faith community? Do I treat the Eucharist as merely a private devotion or do I find myself moved to deeper love and desire for Christ-like service to greater humanity? To remain faithful to Christ may sometime mean we have to pay a price for discipleship. How strong am I connected to endure?

Much food for thought on this Easter Sunday. More to come . . .

Fr. Tim

Insight Scoop

The Vine, the Branches, and "Eternal Security"

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, May 6, 2012, the Fifth Sunday of Easter | Carl E. Olson

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

--snip--

“No doubt there are Catholics who think this way,” I wrote to him, “but it is only because they do not understand the Church’s teaching. On one hand, we can have a moral certainty of our salvation. That is, we can know that we are right with God and that we have no mortal sin in our lives (cf., 1 Jn 5:16). But we never say that we ‘know’ we are going to heaven for certain, for the simple reason we do not know what might happen between now and death. We cannot presume to know that we will remain in right relationship with God, even if we strongly desire to do so.”

Put another way, we can know for certain if we are in a state of grace at this very moment, but we cannot presume we’ll remain so. As Paul wrote, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12) and “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Tim 2:12).

Today’s Epistle and Gospel offer further insight into this truth. The Apostle John emphasizes that mere words are not enough when it comes to demonstrating a right relationship with God. Talking a good game means nothing if, as the old saying goes, we don’t walk the talk. Rather, we must examine our hearts and “keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” This commandment is a matter of both faith and love. Faith alone, without charity, is not enough.

“Shall we say,” wrote Cyril of Alexandra, “that faith bare and alone is sufficient for one to attain the fellowship that is from above—will even the band of demons rise up to fellowship with God, since they acknowledge God’s unity and have believed that God exists?” Mere knowledge is useless, he adds; abiding in Christ requires the wholehearted and transforming “confession of piety.”

In employing the metaphor of the vine and the branches, Jesus drew upon imagery very familiar to his disciples. In the Old Testament, Israel was often depicted as a vineyard (cf., Isa. 5; Jer. 5:10; 12:10-11), sometimes fruitful, sometimes not. He used this imagery in parables to describe the Kingdom of God (Matt 20:1-16; Lk 13:6-9). His use of it in John 15 is notable for its intimacy: “I am the true vine,” Jesus explains. “Remains in me,” he exhorts the disciples on the eve of his Passion, “as I remain in you.”

One of the apostles, of course, did not remain in Christ; the danger of cutting oneself off from the vine and eternal life is real. It can happen; tragically, it does happen. It is why we have recourse to Confession, which restores us to full communion with Christ and the Church. And, after confessing mortal sin, joined again to the Vine, we are able to receive the fruit of the Vine, the cup of salvation, the “sacrament of love” (CCC 1323).

He is our salvation; he is our security. For without him, we can do nothing.

I am the vine

Why does Jesus speak of himself as the true vine? The image of the vine was a rich one for the Jews since the land of Israel was covered with numerous vineyards. It had religious connotations to it as well. Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel as “the vineyard of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:7). Jeremiah said that God had planted Israel “as his choice vine” (Jeremiah 2:21). While the vine became a symbol of Israel as a nation, it also was used in the scriptures as a sign of degeneration. Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Israel as a vineyard which “yielded wild grapes” (see Isaiah 5:1-7). Jeremiah said that Israel had become a “degenerate and wild vine”(Jeremiah 2:21). When Jesus calls himself the true vine he makes clear that no one can claim their spiritual inheritance through association with a particular people or bloodline. Rather, it is only through Jesus Christ that one can become grafted into the true “vineyard of the Lord”. Jesus offers true life — the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness. How does the vine become fruitful? The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit.

Vines characteristically have two kinds of branches — those which bear fruit and those which don’t. The non-bearing branches must be carefully pruned back in order for the vine to conserve its strength for bearing good fruit. Jesus used this image to describe the kind of life he produces in those who are united with him — the fruit of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Jesus says there can be no fruit in our lives apart from him. The fruit he speaks of here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). There is a simple truth here: We are either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing. There is no in-between. But the bearing of healthy fruit requires drastic pruning. The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him and allow him to purify us. Do you trust in the Lord’s abiding presence with you?

Reflection written by Don Schwager of www.rc.net

5th Sunday of Easter

Faith
May 4th, 2012
Gayle Somers

Gospel (Read Jn 15:1-8)

Our reading today comes from a section of St. John’s Gospel that is often called “the Last Supper discourse.” After He washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus spoke at length with them in a most serious manner. This was straight talk; no more parables. We should be keenly interested in every word He had to say.

He begins with a dramatic statement: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinegrower.” To the Jewish ears of His apostles, these words brought to life Jesus’ unique identity as both human and divine. “I am” was God’s most holy Name, uttered only once a year by Israel’s High Priest on the Day of Atonement. God’s “vine” was Israel, the beloved people He formed for Himself through promises made to Abraham (see Ps 80:8-16; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21). In this statement, so brief, Jesus helps the apostles understand that something new was about to begin in Him. The “vine” of Israel had become barren, fruitless. Recall how many parables Jesus used to describe problems in a vineyard. Now, He is taking up Israel’s true calling—bearing fruit for God—and fulfilling it. At last, the “Vinegrower” will be pleased with His harvest. In addition, Jesus’ disciples will be branches on this healthy vine. The Father will remove the dead branches; He will prune the fruitful ones to bear “more fruit.” Jesus tells the apostles that one pruning has already taken place in them “because of the word I spoke to you.” The apostles had been called out of their ordinary lives and had been given the grace of hearing and seeing God’s own Truth in Jesus. Their “yes” to Him was their first pruning, in which they left everything for His sake. During the footwashing, Jesus had told them that although He washed their feet, they did not need to bathe “all over” because they were “clean already, but not all of you.” This helps us see the change that had taken place in the apostles by their association with Jesus, as well as the departure from that change chosen by Judas.

Now, He tells them to “Remain in Me, as I remain in you.” How would that happen if He left them? The communion they had enjoyed for three years would continue when Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to them on the Day of Pentecost. That was the day the apostles began baptizing converts into the life of the Spirit. Repentance, conversion, and baptism would make it possible for the followers of Jesus to have His own life in them. Jesus makes it clear that being His disciple was not simply a matter of trying to follow the example He had set in His earthly life and His teachings. That was perhaps the way it was with other great rabbis or leaders of religions in the world. No, Jesus says bluntly, “without Me, you can do nothing.” The disciples of Jesus are first changed on the inside, by the gift of being grafted into the life of Christ in baptism, as the Church teaches. Then, in the grace of our sacramental life, we are able to choose to follow His example of love. Pope Benedict describes this well:

The Fathers expressed the difference between these two aspects, as well as their mutual relationship, using the categories of sacramentum and exemplum: by sacramentum they mean, not any particular sacrament, but rather the entire mystery of Christ—His life and death—in which He draws close to us, enters us through His Spirit, and transforms us. But precisely because this sacramentum truly “cleanses” us, renewing us from within, it also unleashes a dynamic of new life. The command to do as Jesus did is no mere moral appendix to the mystery, let alone an antithesis to it. It follows from the inner dynamic of gift with which the Lord renews us and draws us into what is His. (Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, pg 62)

Notice the outcome of a disciple’s fruitful life: “Ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.” When we engage in the work Jesus left us to do—to spread the Gospel and to be perfected in love—our prayers will be answered. The answers, whenever and however they come, will show forth God’s glory. This is the unshakeable confidence we should have when we let what Jesus says sink in: “Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit.”

What kind of fruit can we expect to bear? Listen to what the Church says:

“For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit – indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born – all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so, worshipping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives.” (CCC 901)

In other words, when we remain in the Vine, the whole world can be sanctified through us. What a beautiful harvest!

Possible response: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have planted a fruitful Vine in this starving world. I offer today for Your harvest.

First Reading (Read Acts 9:26-31)

Here we have an account of Saul, the fire-breathing persecutor of Christians, after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Just as the apostles’ lives had been changed (“pruned”) by their encounter with Jesus, Saul was a new man after his conversion. He immediately began preaching the Gospel in Damascus; later he visited Jerusalem. At first, of course, the disciples were wary of him. Was he secretly trying to infiltrate their community by pretending to be a believer? Barnabas, however, one of the leaders in the Church, “took charge of him and brought him to the apostles.” Their acceptance of him and his testimony meant that the Christians no longer feared him. Saul even took on the Hellenist Jews in debate—the very group he had himself encouraged as they stoned Stephen, the Church’s first martyr (see Acts 7:58-8:1). They wanted to kill Saul, too! Then his Christian “brothers” (now so different from their earlier terror) sent him away from danger to Tarsus, his hometown.

In this episode, Saul becomes an example of what Jesus describes in our Gospel reading; His encounter with a man is what changes him. Whereas once Saul was a “branch” without fruit in Israel, his encounter with Jesus put new life into him—Jesus’ own life. We can see that in the fact that the Hellenist Jews wanted to kill him. The life of Saul’s Master had become his own life, too.

Finally, St. Luke describes the quiet growth of the early church in “all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.” It was “being built up” by the Holy Spirit. It was not a human organization, guided and empowered by the will of man. The life of Jesus, made present by “the consolation of the Holy Spirit,” increased its numbers. It “walked in the fear of the Lord,” just as Jesus had lived His whole life. Truly this was the fruit of which Jesus spoke in the Gospel: “By this is My Father glorified.”

Possible response: Lord Jesus, when I see the change in Saul because of You, I know there’s hope for the changes I need in my life, too.

Psalm (Read Ps 22:26-28, 30-32)

This is the psalm Jesus had in mind while He was dying on the Cross. How do we k now? Read its first line (not included in today’s reading): “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This was Jesus’ cry of agony when He shouldered the sin of all human history to make atonement for us. Why was He thinking of this particular psalm?

The answer is in our responsorial: “I will praise You, Lord, in the assembly of Your people.” The psalm, although it begins in desolation and includes a graphic foretelling of the gruesome details of the Crucifixion, ends in great hope. The Sufferer foresees life beyond the dreadful experience he is undergoing. He sees a time of rejoicing among God’s people, a time when “all the families of the nations shall bow down before Him.” Here, then, is a foreshadowing of the Church that will arise in Jesus as a result of His victory over sin and death in the Resurrection. The Sufferer promises to “fulfill My vows before those who fear the Lord”—a reference to Jesus’ frequent teaching that He would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day. When that happens, “the lowly [or “humble”] shall eat their fill”—a veiled reference, perhaps, to the Eucharistic banquet Jesus promised to those who believe in Him.

Jesus pondered this psalm as He died because it embraced both His suffering and His glory. He wanted to press on to the realization of what the psalm envisions. He could perhaps “see” in it the proclamation of His Gospel by the apostles, by Saul (St. Paul), and by His disciples in our own day: “Let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice He has shown.” If this is what Jesus “saw” in the psalm, He died in peace.

Possible response: The psalm is, itself, a response to our other readings. Read it again prayerfully to make it your own.

Second Reading (Read 1 Jn 3:18-24)

This is actually a difficult passage to interpret definitively. Space does not permit us to go beyond seeing how St. John takes up in his epistle the teaching from Jesus he and the other apostles received at the Last Supper: those who desire to “remain” in Jesus, the True Vine, must believe in the Name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another. The emphasis here is on keeping Jesus’ commandments in order to remain in Him. This we do not in our own strength; our obedience comes “from the Spirit He gave us.” We are not Christians “in word or speech but in deed and truth.” Our union with Jesus (i.e., our sacramental life) is what gives us “confidence in God,” even if our emotions (“our hearts”) make us feel uncertain before Him, “for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.” St. John repeats Jesus’ promise: we “receive from [God] whatever we ask” when we fulfill the work Jesus gave us to do (“ we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him”). This makes us the fruitful vineyard, whose harvest glorifies God and blesses the whole of creation.

St. John assures us—it is just as Jesus said it would be.

Possible response: Heavenly Father, I know that when I ask You to help me do the work of love for others, I will receive what I need. Help me aim for love always.

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, May 6, 2012 >>

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Saint of the Day

Acts 9:26-31
1 John 3:18-24
View Readings

Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32
John 15:1-8

THE PEACE OF THE RESURRECTION

"The Church was at peace." —Acts 9:31

When the risen Jesus met the women leaving the tomb, He gave the customary Jewish greeting, "Shalom" (Peace) (Mt 28:9). When the risen Jesus met the apostles on the first Resurrection evening, He again said "Shalom" (Peace) (Jn 20:19, 21). Likewise, Jesus wants to give us peace for an Easter present.

Jesus left us peace in His last will and testament. He promised: " 'Peace' is My farewell to you, My peace is My gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace" (Jn 14:27). His peace is not based on circumstances. His peace can be present even at the funeral home or hospital, in divorce or rejection, and in painful suffering. Jesus wants us to be "at peace before Him no matter what our consciences may charge us with" (1 Jn 3:19-20). Even if we still feel guilty after confessing our sins because of a scrupulous conscience, Jesus will give us a peace we never dreamed possible, a peace "beyond all understanding" (Phil 4:7).

Jesus is our Peace (Eph 2:14). When we surrender to Him by doing His will instead of ours (see Mt 26:39), we make peace. When we surrender in the "battle of wills" between the Lord's will and ours, we win peace. Win peace, make peace, surrender to Jesus Who is our Peace.

Prayer: Father, may I be a peacemaker (see Mt 5:9) by denying myself and obeying You.

Promise: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who lives in Me and I in him, will produce abundantly, for apart from Me you can do nothing." —Jn 15:5

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus, Victor over death. "All the families of the nations shall bow down before" You (Ps 22:28).

There is a quote attributed to St. Joan of Arc regarding her salvation. When asked if she was saved, she replied....

“If I am, I pray God keep me there. If I am not, I pray God take me there.”

Can’t remember where I heard this and I am not even sure if it is accurately quoted and attributed, but I love the theology behind it.

http://resources.sainteds.com/showmedia.asp?media=../sermons/homily/2012-05-06-Homily%20Fr%20Gary.mp3&ExtraInfo=0&BaseDir=../sermons/homily