A Catholic priest since 1997, Fr. Andrew Ricci is currently the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI. His website "Three Great Things" can be found at studyprayserve.com and his podcasts can be found under "Catholic Inspiration" in the iTunes store.
Christ is the vine; we are the branches. Drawing strength from the Lord we flourish and grow, fruitfully sharing the grace we have received with the people in our lives.
Serve: What do the readings do or make me say…today?
Let’s take a look at some of the major themes that appear in the Scripture readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter.
1st Reading – Acts 9:26-31
Barnabas brings Saul (St. Paul) before the Apostles, who learn how God has worked through him.
The Holy Spirit builds up the early Church.
Psalm 22:26-27,28,30,31-32
All people shall bow down before the Lord.
Note: this Psalm is extraordinary…verses 1-21 focus on the suffering of the righteous servant of God (Jesus), while verses 22-31 are all about God’s triumph. Give yourself a treat and read it straight through, and think about how it applies to the death and resurrection of Christ.
2nd Reading – 1 John 3:18-24
The Lord commands us to love one another, especially through our actions.
By following the Lord’s commands, we remain in him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel – John 15:1-8
Christ is the vine, we are the branches; the Father tends and prunes the branches so that we bear fruit.
By staying connected to Christ – the vine – we remain in him and he remains in us.
The Lord is our Good Shepherd, but how do we respond to Jesus in our lives today? The Gospel of John offers three insights which can help us carry out the call of Christ.
Three Great Things 