Meditation Daily
The Gospel of today presents part of the reflection of Jesus around the parable of the vine. To understand the significance of this parable, it is important to carefully study the words used by Jesus. It is also important to closely observe a vine, or any other plant, to see how it grows: how the trunk and branches become united, and how the fruit springs from each.
Jesus presents the analogy of the vine. In the Old Testament the image of the vine indicated the people of Israel The people were like a vine that God planted with great tenderness on the hills of Palestine But the vine does not correspond to what God expected. Instead of producing good grapes, it produces sour fruit which is good for nothing. Jesus is the new vine, the true vine. In one phrase alone He gives us the comparison. He says, “I am the true vine and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch   that bears no fruit He cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes to make it bear even more.” Pruning is painful but it is necessary. It purifies the vine, and thus it grows and bears more fruit.

Jesus explains and applies the parable. The disciples are already purified. They have already been pruned by the word that they heard from Jesus.
Jesus asks us to remain in his love. Our model is that which Jesus Himself lives in His relationship with the Father. He says, “As the Father has loved Me, I have loved you. Remain in My love!” He insists on saying that we must remain in Him and that His words should remain in us. And He even says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you want and you will get it!” What the Father wants most is that we become disciples of Jesus and that we bear much fruit.
Let us ask our Lord the grace to remain in His presence always and bear the fruits of gospel values through our religious life.
Amen!
                                                               Bro. Tom J. Perumalil CMI
                                                               Dharmaram College Bengaluru


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