Weekly Meditation for May 10th

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Weekly Meditation
by Michael Desmond
John 15:1-8

'I am the true vine, and my Parent is the vine-grower. God removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Parent is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and becomemy disciples.

"Bear fruit." That is, do works of love. These are the tangible signs of discipleship.

For, almost unbelievably, we have been grafted into the vine of Jesus and become part of a great and everlasting community. Never alone. We are linked in relationship to the abiding and same love that flows between Jesus and God.

Feel it! The true life force.

So then, may we constantly search for ways to love so that we may bear fruit. Confidently we join with unnumbered other branches to continue to work for the glorification of God. Just as Jesus' own works did.

Also, we have been told that what we ask in prayer will be answered. May we always try to be open to and prayerfully conscious of the many ways that love flows into each of us through the one eternal vine of Jesus.