The famous book by Robert Cardinal Sarah titled: God or Nothing, a conversation on Faith with Nicolas Diat is in fact the summary of the gospel today. It is an eloquent testimony of the exhaustible power of God over all creatures and that we can do nothing without him. He is the ‘Be All and End All,’ the Alpha and Omega,’ the Beginning and the End,’ as the gospels testify. We are no being without him and in him we live, move, and have our being.
The Testament of Paul
The statement of Paul in the first reading today is born out of total recognition of the powerful influence of Christ in his life. Knowing that he was a great persecutor of the Church and was arrested by Christ on his way to Damascus; he turned a new leaf and became an ardent servant and disciple of Christ. He realized how the Lord had used him as an instructor of the Gospel to the gentile world and aware of his achievements and commitment to the Lord who was the secret of his great works exclaimed: ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Gal 2:19-20). It is a testament of total dependence on Christ, without whom nothing is possible.
The Image of the Vine and the Branches
Christ in the gospel today uses a very wonderful image of the vine and the branches to teach his disciples. This is because as a great teacher, he knew that the image of the vine and branches are traditionally very familiar to the people for easy understanding. He used it to explain to them what being totally committed and attached to the Lord could mean just as the branches are attached to the tree vine. He makes it clear that he is the vine and we are the branches and that we are nothing if we are separated from him. Thus, he says: ‘as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me’ (John 15: 4). That is to say that we must live our lives in Christ to be spiritually healthy and flourishing just like the tree planted beside the flowing water is ever alive and green in season and out of season. That is how we should be when we are deeply rooted in Christ.
The Benefit of Abiding in Christ
The fruits of abiding in Christ are very evident. Anyone who abides in Christ draws strength and life from him. Such a person is always spiritually and otherwise active, alive in Christ at all times, come rain or sunshine because he is totally dependent on the Lord as his or her ‘Be all and End all.’ Such a person bears fruits that are enduring especially the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Even Christ himself said it thus: ‘whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:7). Besides, he says: ‘if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you’ (John 15: 7), and by so doing, the Father would be glorified as you bear much fruit. And bearing fruit is clear evidence that we are disciples of Christ because we shall be the light of the world and make a difference everywhere. That is what we are called to do, to abide in Christ, and be committed to him at all times.
Peace to you all!
P.S. On behalf of GVM, I would like to thank Father Cyriacus (or Father C-Y to his fellow priests), for all his hard work at the GVM event in Nigeria earlier this month. He completed hundreds of tasks, including coordinating almost four hundred volunteers. He made several trips from England to Nigeria over the past year to get things moving. Well done!!!
