“Nourishing our relationship with the Lord and reflecting the fruits of this affiliation in our daily lives!”
(Based on Acts 15:1-6 and Jn 15:1-8 – Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter)
A young man once checked into a serene hilltop retreat center…
… lush trees, birdsong in the morning
He was told it was a place to reconnect… spiritually.
But just a few hours in, he grew restless.
His phone showed zero network range.
No signal. No data.
No Wi-Fi. No messages.
And then came the meltdown.
In frustration, he muttered, “Ugh! I feel totally disconnected from the world!”
An elderly priest nearby, seated quietly with his Rosary, gently smiled and said:
“Son, if only we felt this disturbed when we’re disconnected from God.”
The young man was stunned.
He had been more distressed by the lack of Wi-Fi than the lack of prayer in his life.
So often true in our lives too, isn’t it?
We refresh apps..
… but do we refresh our hearts?
We seek network towers…
… but do we seek the True Tower of Strength?
The Gospel of the Day invites us to continually nurture and nourish our relationship with the Lord…
… and to reflect the fruits of this affiliation in our daily lives.
Jesus says that, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, because without me, you can do nothing” (Jn 15: 5)
These are highly powerful words of the Divine Lord…”WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING!”
There are a few implications of these powerful words….
- Its a great message of hope
The statement of the Lord is a deep assurance that in every moment of our lives, we can bank on Him.
St Paul realized the deep understanding of this message of hope and could cry out, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13)
We can place our hope in the Lord…
… even when all seems lost and crashed in life
… even when things hit rock bottom in our life
- It’s a great message of warning
The statement of the Lord is also a grave warning that in every moment of our lie, we can crack without Him!
The Prodigal Son realized the depth of such a break of relationship, when he had gone away from his father, and found himself in dire needs.
He would therefore say, “I shall get up and go to my Father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you…’ (Lk 15: 18)
We are warned by the Lord…
… in every moment, we need to be dependent on the Lord
… in every situation of life, we cannot achieve true success by our own merits and talents
Sometimes in life, when things go on well and when everything seems fine, we tend to forget that it is the Lord, who is ultimately leading and guiding us.
We get into a feeling that it is my achievements and hard work alone, that is the cause of every success and smile that I enjoy.
But once in a way, when emptiness engulfs our lives, maybe by way of…
… a sickness or a death…
… a financial difficulty or uncertainty of the future…
… crisis in relationships or breakage of human bonding
… or any other problem or difficulty…
We realize that there is a loss in our relationship with the Lord, the Strength of our life!
Unless we stay connected to this Mighty Network, our lives will stay in gloom and shadow!
When we are connected with the Lord, even in the midst of any crisis, the supply of inner joy and peace will always remain constant!
As St John of the Cross says, “Oh, how happy is this soul that is ever conscious of God resting and reposing within its breast!”
The early Christian community gives us a beautiful example of coming together in the name of the Lord in order to resolve a crisis (Acts 15:1ff)
They realised that every human problem has its solution and consolation in the Lord!
Let us always seek to be united with the Lord…
… realising that ‘the fruits of our life don’t come from our talents – they come from our being tethered with the Vine!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
Respect toward parents fills the home with light and warmth. “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged.”
“With all humility and meekness, with patience, [support] one another in charity. (CCC # 2219)
Reflection Capsules 