CUT OFF FROM WHOM?

HOMILY FOR THE 5^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

We live in our world where many believe in the securities they can offer themselves. We experience the people of this era who are so concerned with clinging extremely to things that cannot offer them security. We have also witnessed the characters that see themselves as lords and masters without whom no one succeeds. We have also mat in one way or the other individuals who believe in the power and security offered by what they have (possessions) or whom they have (connections). We live in a society where very few can succeed without being connected. We have seen situations where by the less qualified gets appointments meant for the more qualified. This is a degenerated lifestyle that undermines the dependency of the human person upon the divine person. Those who place all their hope and trust in contingent persons and things end up either frustrated or running out of the track. Only with God can we run well according to the track so as to end up in glory.

The Gospel (John 15:1-8) presents us with the allegory of the vine. Jesus calls himself the true vine. This suggests that there are vines that are untrue. We must recall that Israel was regarded as the vine of God in the Old Testament (cf. Ezekiel 19:10). She continued to disregard the dictates of God, and was constantly unfaithful to the covenant she had with God; thus she as a nation was untrue. In calling himself the true vine, Jesus brandishes his fidelity and connectedness to God. He tells us that he is our own fidelity to God can only be got though our cleavage to him who has in the most truthful manner been one with the father. The only thing that can save us is to have an intimate living fellowship with Jesus. For us to succeed and bear fruit, we must become the branches of the true vine. No external contact can make anyone fruitful and right with God; only the anchoring on Jesus can do that.

Yes, we can become the branches of Jesus. But that is the first stage. The second stage is that we must strive to bear fruit. The more we bear fruit, the more Jesus looks after us by pruning us, and then the more we bear more fruit. Bearing fruits can be likened with the effort we must make as Christians. We must develop that for which God has endowed us with. We must not allow anything or anybody to strangulate or stifle what God has put into us. Constant effort must be made by us, for it is in making these efforts that we invite Jesus to come and cleanse us of the frailties surrounding us and prunes us of the unnecessary adaptations we make over time. By so doing, we remain in shape. This is because we are abiding in Jesus. Anyone who does not bear fruit while claiming to abide in Jesus simply grows wild and dirty till he/she withers away for absence of care and pruning. These are the ones regarded as the useless branches.

There are many ways we can become useless branches even when we claim to abide in Jesus. The first is that we can refuse to pay heed to Jesus and his message to us. The second is that we can listen to him, but however render lip service unsupported by any deeds. The third is that we can accept him as our master, but in times of difficulties or the desire to follow our own will, abandon him. The fruitless branch has only one goal. It is on its way to destruction. But who are these useless branches? It can be the Jews. It can be us today. The Jews have refused to listen to Jesus; they have refused to accept him, and thus can be seen as useless. Christians today can also be useless vines. They are those who profess Christianity without practice, and words without deeds. Their leaves blossom and spread so well that people think they are healthy. However, they will never bear fruit because they are fake branches. This type of Christian may be anyone. We need only make effort not to be those branches that are only with leaves without fruits. If these branches are cut off, only one awaits them –withering away.

We only bear fruit when we are abiding in Christ. Christ is the only reality apart from whom we bear no fruit. No other human spirit or evil spirit can make such a claim. Do not be discouraged when someone tries to convince you that you are nothing without him. That one is not your God. Do not be frustrated when you think that there is a gigantic door trying to be closed against you. Jesus is the master and has the master key. And if you abide in Jesus, he borrows you this master key to unlock every door you deem fit. No human being is a possessor of success; only God possesses it. Anyone who looks down on another and gives others the impression that he is the true vine is like the branch that has fallen from the true vine. Sometimes, the branch may think it can survive outside the main vine, as it tries hard to root itself on the ground, but it is a pity that it cannot achieve this since it has no power to produce roots.

Nothing in life should become one’s untrue vine. We must be aware that it is only to Christ that apart from whom we are nothing; not to wealth, not to academic qualification, not to age, not to positions of power, not to human connections, and not to purported self exultation. The things of this world are all vanity, and cannot be regarded as true vines, and no one should gain your conviction by the impression he gives you that he/she is a true vine.  Only Christ assures fruitfulness. Only he can make something grow. Anyone can plant and water, but only God grant the growth. The First Reading (Acts 9:26-31) is a clear sign that if Christ is with you, acceptance and fruitfulness awaits you. Paul was a figure the disciples dreaded, but when Barnabas explained his relationship with Christ, the disciples accepted him. It was because Christ was with him that he bore fruits in all Judea, Galilee and Samaria. Christ was with his people; they grew in number. The growth there signifies fruitfulness.

All we need do is, as John in the Second Reading (1 John 3:18-24) advised: we should believe in the name of Jesus and love one another just as Jesus commands us. He avers that those who keep the commands of Jesus remain in him, and he in them. If we forget Jesus, we wither. If we abide in him, we are pruned and bear more fruits. Cut off from Jesus, we do nothing. May this week be a week of greater rapport with Jesus. May it be fruitful too for all the branches of the true vine. Amen. God bless you.