May 18, 2003

This week's Gospel selection describes the Christian community as a vineyard filled with branches from only one vine - Jesus Christ. Judging from today's first reading, the year that Paul's "branch" was joined to the Christian community was a very good year for the fruit of the vine of Christ.

Today's first reading begins shortly after Paul's Baptism. Like Paul, all the baptized who remain firmly attached to Christ will increase the fruitfulness of the "vineyard" that is the Church. All the baptized need continual "pruning" if we are to remain fruitful and none of us can go at it alone. We must "intertwine" and support one another by our love if we are to remain in Him and bear the fruit of the vine.

The "wine" that we share in the Eucharist is the fruit of the one true vine, Jesus Christ. We are privileged to receive it through the work of generations of "branches" like Paul, who remained in Christ, bore fruit, and supported new branches as they grew strong in faith. The premier vintage of the Eucharist fills us with the spiritual life that flows through the vine and the branches of Christ.

SO THE QUESTION: WHAT FRUIT IS CHRIST RIPENING AND BEARING THROUGH YOU?

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