Commentary

In the first reading, we are presented with Saul's confrontations in Jerusalem.  The community feared him because of his past and had difficulty accepting that he was really one of them.  Barnabas becomes a link between the community (specifically the twelve) and Paul.  Barnabas introduces Paul to the twelve and explains Paul's call and his witness to Jesus in Damascus.  Because of Barnabas, the twelve accept Paul, who confronts the Hellenistic Jews (immigrants) in Jerusalem just as he did in Damascus.  As a result of this confrontation, the community sends him to Tarsus to protect him from danger.  Apparently, the peace that the Church experienced throughout all of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria is attributed to Paul's conversion.

In the second reading, it becomes clear that God is greater than our hearts.  Since God, the source of forgiveness is greater than our hearts, the possibility of our conscience condemning us should not destroy our confidence.  Even if we are not conscious of sin, we are assured that God hears our prayer.  However, keeping the commandments is of great importance to the Johannine community and so a summary of the commandments is given in the typical Johannine form: believe in his Son's name and Love one another.  This may be the Johannine version of the double love command of Mark 12:28-31.  In the Johannine tradition  "to believe" in the Son whom God sent is equivalent to loving God.

Jesus as the true vine is the focus of today's Gospel.  The Old Testament images of Israel as "vine" (Isa 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jer 2:21; 5:10; Hos 10:1; Ezek 15:1-6; 17:5-10; 19:10-14; Ps 80:8-15) is the basis for the Johannine use of this symbol.  The shepherd symbol found in chapter 10 was used to insure that no one would "seize" any of the sheep belonging to Jesus; and the eucharistic tradition in verses 6:51-58, which might also have been a carrier of "vine" imagery in the Johannine community, was linked with the teaching about the necessity of remaining with Jesus.  Just as God is responsible for the sheep who come to Jesus, he is also the one to tends the vine.  Because of persecution, the first verses of today's readings reflect a warning to those Christians who might "hide" their faith.  They need to remain faithful in prayer and practice.  Perseverance is essential.  Bearing fruit must be seen as the missionary activity of the Church - we receive the Gospel message and we in turn proclaim it to others.  If a Christian bears fruit then they represent Jesus in this world and thus glorify the Father.

Reflection

Several years ago my wife and I planted a Gardenia bush in our yard.  Being that the Gardenia is my wife's favorite flower she awaits with anticipation every year for it to bloom.  This year it bloomed like never before.  Each branch held from one to three flowers and eventually, for about two weeks in late April and early May, the bush was almost totally covered in the aromatic white flowers.  It bloomed more this year than any other because several weeks ago I "pruned" it back allowing the bush to direct more energy into it's flower production (in essence its fruit) instead of the foliage.  In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses the people about the importance of growing in our faith and discipleship and he does so by using the images of  being pruned and giving fruit, images that would have impacted his audience in a great way.

Jesus assures us that only by being faithful to his teaching and living attached to him (in essence discipleship) can we truly rise to our calling as a person.  People who know nothing of God and who believe that the world revolves around them are in fact lost and can only find themselves and define who they are by asserting their own desires and ambitions in a struggle with the rest of the world.  They only feel alive when they impose themselves on other people, by hoarding for themselves what others cannot have.  They create a distinction between themselves and others who have less than they do.  This is the only way they can make sense of their lives and the only way they can feel that they have given fruit.  They haven't understood the message of today's Gospel that life is to be found in unity and not in division because we depend on one another and all depend on Christ.  To live separated from Christ is to live in division with all mankind.  It is to be an individual and not a person.  To separate ourselves from the vine of life which is Jesus is to see ourselves only in the light of what I have and what I am in contrast to what you lack and what you're not.  When we remain in Christ we remain attached to life itself and our lives become one with his.  We live in Christ and Christ lives in and through us.

Biblical Sources

New American Bible; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Hengel, M., "Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity"; Maddox, R., "The Purpose of Luke-Acts-Studies of the New Testament and Its World"; Marshall, I. H., "The Acts of the Apostles"; Wilson, S. G., "The Gentiles and the Gentile Mission in Luke-Acts"; Brown, R. E., "The Epistles of John"; Grayston, K., "The Johannine Espistles"; Marshall, I. H., "The Espistles of John"; Barrett, C. K., “The Gospel According to John”; Brown, R. E., “The Community of the Beloved Disciple”; Schnackenburg, R., “The Gospel According to St. John”; Segovia, F. F., “Love Relationships in the Johannine Tradition”; “The Collegeville Bible Commentary”; Brown, Raymond E., S.S., “Introduction to the New Testament”; Brown, Fitzmyer, and Murphy (ed.) “The New Jerome Biblical Commentary”.

Reflection: Deacon Lazaro J. Ulloa