B: 5th Sun of Easter (29 Apr 2018) - WE ARE THE BRANCHES - Jn 15:1-8

The statement of Jesus in John 15:1-8 is theologically and pastorally rich in meanings. I present three C’s to guide us in understanding the text better:

CONNECTION. “I am the vine you are the branches” (v. 5a). We are the branches that need to be connected with Christ, the vine. Being disconnected deprives us of the life-giving nutrients of the vine. So are Christians who are not connected to Christ in prayer. They function on themselves alone like tasteless salt that is good for nothing (cf. Mk 9:50). But being connected with God and his kingdom assures us that “all things shall be added” unto us (cf. Mt 6:33).

COLLECTION. “As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing” (v. 5b). The goal of the vinedresser is to have a fruitful harvest, and not to decorate his vineyard with exquisite branches and foliage. We should all use our bodies, talents and efforts in being of help in spreading the good news; otherwise they stand as mere empty ornaments becoming part of the world’s vanity (Ecc 1:2). In fact, St. Paul says, “Whoever does not work should not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). We are likewise called to all work for the sake of the gospel.

CORRECTION. “Whoever does not remain in me is thrown away, as they do with branches, and they wither. Then they are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned” (v. 6). The vinedresser cuts bad branches lest the whole vine is infected. Likewise, we should cut off all wrong-doings, ill-attitudes and counter-Gospel behaviors so as not to set bad examples to God’s so-called “little ones” (cf. Mt 18:6). Doing so, we should be open to criticisms and dialogue, and work indefatigably toward holiness even if we fall repeatedly on the way. For it is necessary first to see the speck in our own eyes so that we can see clearly others’ too (cf. Mt 7:3-5).

Connection, Collection, Correction…

Let us then ask ourselves if we as parts of God’s vineyard are observant of these. But when concretized in the Philippine political situation, this scenario has been turned into a wild-wild-west vineyard where a vindictive vinedresser reigns supreme. Higher “connection” continues to be a Standard-Operating-Procedure in government dealings, where patronage politics is still indispensable (ask: Why Napoles now, all of a sudden, is off the hook?). The “collection” or reckoning of alleged narco-criminals is bloody as always even amidst clamors for violation of human rights (ask: Why 13 still died in the renewed recent police operations in Bulacan?). And the “correction” of errors remains a one-way affair, where the government criticizes wantonly oppositionists but does not want to be corrected in return (ask: Why Sr. Patricia Fox, a foreign Australian missionary, is now ordered to leave the Philippines?).

At this juncture, we can only ask questions. But let our guiding principle in asking be: Consider always that God is the ultimate vinedresser of our land, his is the sole authority to connect, collect and correct us… for we are mere branches of Jesus the vine.

- Rex Fortes, CM