Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

 

In the gospel acclamation for today’s Eucharist, we hear Jesus’ words: “Remain in me, as I remain in you…whoever remains in me will bear much fruit” (Jn 15:4a,5b). It is a useful key to understanding the gospel passage from St. Matthew about fruit borne by good trees and bad trees—in this case, good disciples and false prophets. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit…So by their fruits you will know them” (Mt 7:18,20).

How does a branch bear good fruit? It must remain attached to a good vine. It must “remain” in Christ. But what does it mean to “remain” in Christ? If we read that quote in the context of St. John’s Gospel, we discover that it is part of Jesus’ parable about the vine and the branches. “I am the true vine…Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me” (Jn 15:4). And later, Jesus makes the meaning of the word “remain” explicit by saying that it is by keeping his commandments that we “remain” in his love, just as he remains in his Father’s love by doing his Father’s will.

The French Jesuit, Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751) said that “remaining in Christ” is living each moment in total surrender to God’s will. It is complete trust in God’s providential love and the acceptance of all circumstances of our daily lives as opportunities for growth into a deeper relationship with Him. We are challenged today to attach ourselves—not to material things, worldly ambitions nor to other persons—but to Jesus Christ. Rooted in Him, we bear fruit in abundance—fruit not for ourselves, but for the nourishment of everyone we encounter each day.

 

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB