These past few weeks we have celebrated some very special sacraments and holidays (Easter Sunday, and some First Eucharists, for example), and we have had guests in our Church (or have been guests ourselves elsewhere). Week-in and week-out, however, parish people come through the doors of St. Aidan “for Church.” We are those who come every Sunday, and we celebrate the liturgy together in praise and worship of God.
This weekend we hear the lovely Gospel image of Jesus presenting himself as the vine, and we, the believers, the branches. (An appropriate image for Spring!) Joined as we are to Jesus (in keeping His commandments and doing our best to live in His love), we are told by Him that we will bear much fruit. And so, we come each and every week to give thanks to God for His great love and mercy. (Don’t you get tired of people who say they won’t come to Church because they “don’t get anything out of it”?) As is always true with God, we all know that if you come here to give, you will receive. (Think of the paradoxes of the Beatitudes!)
The image of the vine and branches may help us to understand why we come here every Sunday to give ourselves back to God, and yet we leave having gained from the Word, the Eucharist and this Community of Christ. This is the Gospel message today: that we are nourished and fed by God through Jesus, and all of us are connected to the life-giving vine of faith and Community.
The meaning of the word ‘nourishment’ according to Webster’s Dictionary is: “to promote the growth of; to furnish or sustain with nutriment; to maintain, to support.” We are given the strength to go out into the world: to live in the love of the Lord and to spread the Good News in all we say and do. The last line of Jesus from the Gospel of St. John says: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you will bear much fruit and become my disciples.” There you have it! See you in Church!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
This weekend we hear the lovely Gospel image of Jesus presenting himself as the vine, and we, the believers, the branches. (An appropriate image for Spring!) Joined as we are to Jesus (in keeping His commandments and doing our best to live in His love), we are told by Him that we will bear much fruit. And so, we come each and every week to give thanks to God for His great love and mercy. (Don’t you get tired of people who say they won’t come to Church because they “don’t get anything out of it”?) As is always true with God, we all know that if you come here to give, you will receive. (Think of the paradoxes of the Beatitudes!)
The image of the vine and branches may help us to understand why we come here every Sunday to give ourselves back to God, and yet we leave having gained from the Word, the Eucharist and this Community of Christ. This is the Gospel message today: that we are nourished and fed by God through Jesus, and all of us are connected to the life-giving vine of faith and Community.
The meaning of the word ‘nourishment’ according to Webster’s Dictionary is: “to promote the growth of; to furnish or sustain with nutriment; to maintain, to support.” We are given the strength to go out into the world: to live in the love of the Lord and to spread the Good News in all we say and do. The last line of Jesus from the Gospel of St. John says: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you will bear much fruit and become my disciples.” There you have it! See you in Church!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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