Connections

Today’s Gospel gives us a beautiful image of the importance of our remaining connected to Christ. Jesus said: “Without me you can do nothing.” Unless we are connected to Jesus through faith, and the grace and strength that come from the sacraments, we will not be able to bear fruit. As we can see from the Scriptures, God wants his people to produce a rich harvest. Reflecting on the vine and the branches we learn that sometimes the trials and difficulties that comer our way in life can be a blessing. Through these trials God can make us stronger branches capable of bearing much more fruit. So God allows us to be pruned so that they don’t put too much energy into their own growth and too little into bearing fruit.

Another aspect of the vine is that branches intertwine. This connection between the branches gives support to branches bearing a large number of grapes. On its own it would be unable to stay on the vine without the support of other branches. What a beautiful image of the human family…It reminds me of the words of John Donne in his famous poem: “No man is an island, entire unto himself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If one clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is less… Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind… Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.” In the realm of faith we are connected to Christ through baptism. We are also connected to all others who are baptized, and we are all part of Christ’s Body. Like John Donne says, “We are not islands alone.” St. Paul says that since we are all member of Christ’s Body, we either strengthen or weaken that body by the way we live our lives. Whether we like it or not, there is no private morality – no spiritual life; we contribute to the growth and the resultant harvest or we take away from it. What an awesome responsibility! Whether we like it or not we are already involved!

Today I am sadly reminded of all who have given up the practice of their faith. These people are disconnected branches. Everywhere I go I meet people who were once Catholic. So often such people had been very active in the life of the Church. Some stop practicing when they move. If they go to Church they don’t know anybody or feel that it’s not like the Church they were used to. Others have some disagreement with the Church or feel they have been hurt or neglected by the Church! So what can we do about those who have strayed from the fold? No amount of bible bashing, fear, nor shame will bring them back. Most people are drawn back to the Church by someone who really cares for them. Friends are the best salespersons in the world. Encourage, invite and walk with them. “Touched by a loving hand, wakened by kindness, chords that were broken will vibrate once more.”

Happy Mother’s Day

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day. Mothers reveal to us in a special way God’s great love for us. Mothers have a powerful impact on the lives of their children. In a special way they pass on the faith to their children. Today we ask God to bless all our mothers who are with us. We pray for those who have gone before us to the other side of life, and who still love and pray for us. Someone has said that: “An ounce of Mother is better than a pound of clergy.” For all the blessings our mothers have given to us – we give thanks to God. We will never be able to return all the love our mothers have bestowed on us, so today let us thank our mothers by lavishing our love on the moms who are still with us, and prayer for those who have gone to their reward!