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.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
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Tag Archives: Vine and the Branches
Study, Pray, Serve: 5th Sunday of Easter
Study: What do the readings say?
Pray: What do the readings say to me?
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.
- If we are apart from Christ, we can do nothing.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
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Note: This post was first published on April 26, 2021.
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Daily Mass: We are branches on the vine of Christ. Catholic Inspiration
This beautiful image from John’s Gospel reminds us that our connection to the Lord allows us to thrive and unite together in the most challenging times.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter
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Daily Mass: I am the vine, you are the branches. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus teaches in plain language that just like a vine and its branches, when we are connected to Christ we thrive and bear fruit. Today we consider not only how we can continue to draw closer to the Lord, but also how we might share our lives to bring glory and praise to God in the world today.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter
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Daily Mass: Pruning the branches to bear more fruit. Catholic Inspiration
As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to cultivate a fruitful harvest in our hearts. This not only means fostering the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives, but it also requires our willingness to be pruned of the spiritual vices and behaviors that keep us from God and one another.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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5th Sunday of Easter: Christ is the vine that sustains us in times of struggle. Catholic Inspiration
The accident at the oil refinery in Superior last week was a stark reminder how we rely on and support one another in times of danger. Where do we find the strength to work together? United in our faith in Jesus Christ we are nourished with God’s grace so that we can offer our lives for one another.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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5th Sunday of Easter: The Vine and the Branches
Study: Recall a time in life when you were disconnected from God. What helped you restore your relationship with Christ?
Pray: How can you grow closer to the Lord today? What spiritual resources, sacraments, or fellowship can help you thrive?
Serve: Who in your life is disconnected right now? How can you reach out and help them?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
The relationship between vine an branches is simple: the branches, connected to the vine, draw their strength and nourishment from it. Cut off, they die.
Raising grapes and making wine were crucial at the time of Jesus (and still important today) and this gardening image provides a powerful insight in two crucial aspects of human life.
- Drawing our strength from Christ
- Providing strength to others
As branches connected to Christ, we draw the grace we need from the Lord. It’s his death and resurrection that gives us life; his forgiveness that restores our relationships with God and one another; and his power that we call upon when we confront the obstacles and stumbling blocks in the world. Our lives, dependent on Christ, thrive with his life within us – in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, private prayer, and fellowship with one another.
Yet we also serve as sources of support for others, and the strength of our relationship with God directs our ability to recognize and respond to others. We cannot give what we don’t have, and as we support one another we pass on the grace we receive from Christ and share it with those we meet. Who are these key people who look to us? Some examples:
- parents and children
- extended family
- coworkers
- employees
- classmates
- teammates
- neighbors
- friends
Our lives are interconnected! Drawing strength from Christ – the central vine – we thrive; his strength in turn becomes the power which we extend into the hearts of those whose lives touch our own.
Today: draw near to Jesus and allow his love to fill our hearts! May we pour his love into the lives of each and every soul we meet!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was originally published on May 3, 2015.
Share this:
Daily Mass: The vine and the branches. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter
We draw our life from the Lord, just as fruitful branches draw life from the vine. May our words and actions today proclaim Christ dwelling within us!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Three Great Things 