Pruning the Vine ~ Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:26-31

Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

1 Jn 3:18-24

Jn 15:1-8

This week's readings speak to us about conversion.  As we study these readings, we discover that there is a process that takes place before, during and after a person experiences a conversion. This process requires trust in God and a developing relationship with Him.  It also appears to include the acceptance of the community of believers.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we meet up with Saul, who has just had a life-changing event that turned him from a persecutor of Christians to a man completely dedicated to the Risen Christ.  However, Saul soon found out that the Christians in Jerusalem were afraid of him.  They knew Saul to be a persecutor and did not trust him.  Not until Barnabas spoke up for him and explained what had happened to Saul on the road to Damascus, did the Christians of Jerusalem accept him.  Thus we note that conversion is not a solitary event in one's life.  One's conversion must also be recognized by the community of believers in order to bear fruit.

In today's Gospel reading from John, we hear Jesus speak of himself as the vine.  We, the believers, are the branches of that vine; connected to Jesus in such a way that we must bear fruit.  The Father is the vine grower who prunes away the useless and dead branches.  That is what happens to us if we are truly converted and ready to bear fruit.  We become so connected to the vine and the grower that we cannot bear fruit apart from them.  When we remain in Christ and live His words, we bear the fruit that makes us His disciples.  This is what happened to Paul, formerly Saul.  His life in Christ changed him so much that he put away his old name and took a new one.  Saul left his old life behind...  to become the Apostle to the Gentiles.

To remain in Christ, we are to keep His commandments.  "And his commandment is this:  we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us."  (1 Jn 3:23)