Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Adonis Narceles, SVD – Germany
Wednesday 5th Week of Easter
Autumn, or fall, is one of the most beautiful and colorful times of the year in countries with four seasons. The leaves of trees turn from green to yellow, then to orange and brown, until it falls to the ground. Nature paints a masterpiece in magnificent grandeur. When the leaves have fallen, then it is high time to prune trees and vines, until they bloom again in spring. What is removed are only the unnecessary branches; the trunk remains.
When Jesus said: “I am the vine and you are the branches,” he means that he is the trunk, the center of the tree—the part which survives the cold winter. The trunk is strong and constant. It is not a dead trunk but a tree full of inner life waiting for its resurrection in spring. Indeed, nature celebrates the resurrection in spring time when leaves begin to grow, flowers bloom and the sun shines longer.
The “autumn of the soul” invites us to let go of our unnecessary leaves and dead branches. These are our attachments, weaknesses, sins, and wrong priorities. Pruning our soul is not an easy task. Alone we cannot do it. With God’s help and prayer, we can be trimmed and purified. He does the pruning. He knows what needs to be removed, changed, and renewed. We just let Him do it.
This Gospel mentions the word “remain” eight times. There is a need to be with him—where we feel secured, accepted, loved, and forgiven. In him, we have everything. We remain in him when we read his Word, when we see the wonders in nature, when we celebrate the Eucharist together, and when we say a little prayer or light a candle.
Jesus reminds us today, that he is there for us, even if sometimes we are not aware of his abiding presence. He will never fail us for he is our refuge, our true vine, our life. Amidst the many rapid changes happening around and in us, Jesus remains constant, faithful, and unchanging.
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