Sunday, April 28, 2024 – Fifth Easter Sunday - Cycle B Readings: Acts 9:26-31, Psalm 22 “I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.”, 1 John 3:18-24

                                                   REMAIN IN CHRIST
 
     The deep meaning of the allegory of the vine and the branches is the mystical union between Christ and believers. The trunk, branches, and fruit suggest many things to those who listened to Jesus. The stability of the trunk evokes the certainty of faith. Fruitfulness opens horizons for Christian hope.
 
Sisters and brothers:
 1. The Paschal cycle ends and the risen Christ has left key messages today and the previous Sundays: He is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his sheep, is the master who teaches us the commandment of love, in which we are the branches that receive life and produce fruit if we are united to the vine. We cannot ignore the invitation to re-main in the fold of Christ, and still less, become united to the vine which gives much fruit.
      The allegory is clearly a life of communion with Christ. Grace is communicated to us through the sacraments and gives fruits of holiness and apostolate if we remain united to God. In contrast the separation from Christ produces fruitlessness and death. "Without me you can do nothing."
 
2. The disease most prevalent in our day is loneliness, say psychologists. This is found mainly in countries of higher living standards. Many children suffer from loneliness because their parents are too busy doing other things. Many young people feel misunderstood. They are married living in solitude.
 
     Those living in communities of consecrated life can also live solitary lives, if they have not found friendship with Christ and vegetate unenthusiastically amid the turmoil of their occupations. The elderly especially suffer from loneliness, neglect, abandonment, and are considered a burden. These people have done much in their lives and now may be surrounded by everything but love.
 
3. The loneliness is unbearable for anyone who is surrounded by thousands of people who are unrelated and unknown. Our cities are home to multitudes of people we do not know. Among those that are known, few are real friends. The relationships are superficial and can be short-lived. The interior pain is externalized in depression and anxiety, which can bring more than one to suicide. Our sophisticated and technical world does not favor the deep relationships between people as such.
 
     When John says, "you remain in Christ!" he is asking us not only to live "as" or follow "behind", or that we live "as" or walk "with" him, but live "in" Him. Our program of life should be in communion with God. Certainly to "remain in" is not interpreted passively, but is a dynamic and compromising program.
 
     Sisters and brothers: God is the answer to the problem of loneliness. His knowledge of us is intimate, personal, and profound. He knows our weaknesses, needs and wishes, even before being displayed. I invite you to begin to live like the branch, together with the true vine which is Christ the Lord.
 
Source:
ePriest.com / Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests