Reflection
What is our mission in life? Today’s Gospel provides the answer and the method.
Today’s Gospel requires us to understand our origin and our place within the framework of God’s plan for humanity. All of creation was created by the Spoken Word of God for one purpose: to allow us to fulfill the mission of our life on earth. That mission is to glorify the Father in our humanity, so that we will join Jesus in His divinity for eternity. This is what Jesus did, and what He is calling us to do in today’s Gospel. Jesus is calling us to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit by becoming disciples of Jesus.
Fruitfulness can be defined as how we as Christians bring love into the world. Indeed, Jesus is the true vine, and we bear fruit by remaining connected to Him as a branch is connected to the vine. In this way, Jesus is our source of life. It can be easy to fall into the mistake of thinking that we must do the work of bearing the fruit; however, consider that the branches of a grapevine do not work. By simply staying connected to the central vine, the life of the plant flows through them, erupting in leaves, flowers, and fruit.
It is the same with us. When connected to Christ, the power of God’s love flows through us, producing spiritual fruits of virtues and good works. Too often we feel burdened by the many responsibilities we have as a disciple, spouse, parent, co-worker and friend. Rather than feel burdened, we should be grateful that God has chosen us to serve in these roles. If we surrender ourselves to Him as branches of His Divine Plan, then the power of the Holy Spirit will guide us to bear the fruit to which we are called.
So how do we become faithful and fruitful branches on the vine? The Vatican II document Lumen Gentium describes the faithful people who are striving for holiness as “an abundant harvest of good” (40). To be an abundant harvest for the Lord, the faithful should seek to “follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image, seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor.” One would say that beautiful, ripe apples are the product of the tree, not the branch that bears them. In the same way, the good works that we do are truly God’s accomplishments, borne out in our lives. When we strive to love and serve the Lord for his glory, his will is accomplished in us.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How does your life reflect the power of the Holy Spirit working through you?