MAY 01, 2013 : WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 287

Reading 1 ACTS 15:1-6

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,

“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,

you cannot be saved.”

Because there arose no little dissension and debate

by Paul and Barnabas with them,

it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others

should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters

about this question.

They were sent on their journey by the Church,

and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria

telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,

and brought great joy to all the brethren.

When they arrived in Jerusalem,

they were welcomed by the Church,

as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,

and they reported what God had done with them.

But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers

stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them

and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4AB, 4CD-5

R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel JN 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

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 bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

www.usccb.org

Meditation:  “Abide in me, and I in you”

Why does Jesus speak of himself as the true vine? The image of the vine was a rich one for the Jews since the land of Israel was covered with numerous vineyards. It had religious connotations to it as well. Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel as “the vineyard of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:7). Jeremiah said that God had planted Israel “as his choice vine” (Jeremiah 2:21). While the vine became a symbol of Israel as a nation, it also was used in the scriptures as a sign of degeneration. Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Israel as a vineyard which “yielded wild grapes” (see Isaiah 5:1-7). Jeremiah said that Israel had become a “degenerate and wild vine” (Jeremiah 2:21). When Jesus calls himself the true vine he makes clear that no one can claim their spiritual inheritance through association with a particular people or bloodline. Rather, it is only through Jesus Christ that one can become grafted into the true “vineyard of the Lord”.

Jesus offers true life – the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness. How does the vine become fruitful? The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit. Vines characteristically have two kinds of branches – those which bear fruit and those which don’t. The non-bearing branches must be carefully pruned back in order for the vine to conserve its strength for bearing good fruit. Jesus used this image to describe the kind of life he produces in those who are united with him – the fruit of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Jesus says there can be no fruit in our lives apart from him. The fruit he speaks of here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

There is a simple truth here: We are either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing. There is no in-between. But the bearing of healthy fruit requires drastic pruning. The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him and allow him to purify us. Do you trust in the Lord's abiding presence with you?

"Lord Jesus, may I be one with you in all that I say and do. Draw me close that I may glorify you and bear fruit for your kingdom. Inflame my heart with your love and remove from it anything that would make me ineffective or unfruitful in loving and serving you as my All."

www.dailyscripture.net

Separated From Christ

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Father Patrick Langan, LC John 15: 1-8 Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 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 bear much fruit and become my disciples." Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for granting me the opportunity to be with you. There are things in life, Lord, that attract me, but you attract me more. I hope in you, and I love you. Maybe I don’t really understand what it means to love, and maybe I don’t love the way I should, but I do love you. Petition: Lord, help me to grow in my interior life so I can remain united to you. 1. Forgetfulness of God: Lord, it is so easy to forget you when life gets busy. It is easy to forget you when things go well. Almost without realizing it, I begin to separate myself from the vine. My prayer time is a good thermometer: When I am separating myself from the vine, it becomes shorter and shorter until it almost fades. I go my own way. I forget to pray. However, it isn’t necessarily a question of eliminating activities but of doing all of these tasks for God and in union with him. 2. Barrenness: If I separate myself from Christ, the vine, and invest my energies in something else, I know what is going to happen. I will produce no fruit. This is my experience; it has already happened. Eventually I will wither and be thrown out like a dry branch. Lastly, these withered, old, dried-up branches will be gathered and thrown into a fire, and they will be burned. There is no way I can bear fruit if I am separated from the vine. 3. Abundant Fruit: I want to produce abundant fruit. I want to help bring about a change in this world. That is attractive to me. That means a lot to me. I have tried different ways, and I know that only united to the vine can I bear lasting fruits for Christ’s Kingdom. This is the way I will glorify the Father. In this meditation, I already sense the sap running back into my soul. My life will produce fruit for others. Lord, help me to cling to the vine. Help me to strengthen that bond of unity. Help my faith and love for you grow, for you are my all. Conversation with Christ: Lord, it is easy to trust what I can see, feel and touch. It is wiser, infinitely wiser to trust you, even if you are hidden from me for now. Resolution: At least three times today I will lift up my thoughts to offer one of my activities to God.

www.regnumchristi.org

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

Easter Weekday
JOHN 15:1-8
(Acts 15:1-6; Psalm 122)
KEY VERSE: "I am the vine, you are the branches" (v 5).
READING: Isaiah used the metaphor of a vineyard to describe Israel's relationship with God, whom he imaged as the vine grower (Is 5:1-7). Although Israel was tenderly nurtured by God, it failed to produce fruit. Jesus declared that he was the "true vine" that had been planted in his Father's vineyard. The life of the Father flowed through Jesus who in turn gave life to those who were united to him. Those who chose to separate themselves from him became like withered branches, which were only good for fuel for the fire. The good branches would be pruned so as to increase their yield. In union with Jesus, the Church would be the "new Israel" that glorified God when its members led fruitful lives.
REFLECTING: Do I produce good fruit in my life as a testimony to my union with Christ?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, continue to nourish your Church to produce good fruit.

Optional Memorial of Joseph the Worker 

Despite his humble background, Joseph came from a royal lineage, a descendant of David, the greatest king of Israel. Joseph was chosen by God as the trustworthy guardian of his divine Son.Joseph was wholeheartedly obedient to God - in marrying Mary; in naming Jesus; in shepherding the family to Egypt; in bringing them home to Nazareth; and in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage. Joseph carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord". There is much we wish we could know about Joseph - where and when he was born, how he spent his days, when and how he died. But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge of who he was - "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18).

Work is a good thing for one's humanity � because through work one not only transforms nature, adapting it to his or her own needs, but also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes �more a human being.� �Pope John Paul II

www.daily-word-of-life.com

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord

The vine and the branches.
Jesus came on earth to share our life. He grew up, worked, died-all this the better to share his life with us. United with him, we have superhuman powers, and are superhuman beings, destined for eternal happiness with God.

Blood transfusions or heart transplants may save human lives, but that life remains merely human. Jesus offers to take us not to another planet or a distant star but to another level of reality-we are now God’s children. Do I make myself miserable because I do not have some lesser gifts such as beauty, brains, wealth or popularity? One day I will lack nothing: but meanwhile I have what is most important-Christ himself. Dear Lord, help me to be content.

www.churchresources.info

May 1
St. Joseph the Worker

Apparently in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955. But the relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers has a much longer history.

In a constantly necessary effort to keep Jesus from being removed from ordinary human life, the Church has from the beginning proudly emphasized that Jesus was a carpenter, obviously trained by Joseph in both the satisfactions and the drudgery of that vocation. Humanity is like God not only in thinking and loving, but also in creating. Whether we make a table or a cathedral, we are called to bear fruit with our hands and mind, ultimately for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Comment:

“The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it” (Genesis 2:15). The Father created all and asked humanity to continue the work of creation. We find our dignity in our work, in raising a family, in participating in the life of the Father’s creation. Joseph the Worker was able to help participate in the deepest mystery of creation. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work. Thus, if you wish to be close to Christ, we again today repeat, ‘Go to Joseph’” (see Genesis 41:44).

Quote:

In Brothers of Men, René Voillaume of the Little Brothers of Jesus speaks about ordinary work and holiness: “Now this holiness (of Jesus) became a reality in the most ordinary circumstances of life, those of work, of the family and the social life of a village, and this is an emphatic affirmation of the fact that the most obscure and humdrum human activities are entirely compatible with the perfection of the Son of God....this mystery involves the conviction that the evangelical holiness proper to a child of God is possible in the ordinary circumstances of someone who is poor and obliged to work for his living.”

www.americancatholic.org

Wednesday - Easter Time

1) Opening prayer

Creative God,
when by your word 
you had accomplished your creation,
you entrusted it to people
whom you had created in your image
and you said: fill the earth and subdue it.
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord,
that we may preserve the beauty and order
of your magnificent creation
and that like St Joseph 
we take up the task entrusted to us
of perfecting your creation
in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 13,54-58

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, 'Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter's son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?'
And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own house,' and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

3) Reflection

• Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph the worker; the Gospel describes the visit of Jesus to Nazareth, the city where he was born, where he lived 30 years and where he learnt from Joseph, his father, the trade of carpenter. Passing through Nazareth was painful for Jesus. His community was no longer like the one before. Something had changed. In Mark’s Gospel, this experience of rejection on the part of the people of Nazareth (Mk 6, 1-6a) led Jesus to change his pastoral practise. He sends his disciples on mission and instructs them on how to relate with persons (Mk 6, 6b-13).
• Matthew 13, 54-57a: reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. Jesus grew up in Nazareth. When he began his wandering preaching, he left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum (Mt 4, 12-14). After this long absence, he returned to his home town, and as it was his custom, on Saturday, he went to the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the coordinator, but he began to speak and to teach the people who were in the Synagogue. This is a sign that the people could participate and express their opinion. But people were not pleased to hear what he said. The Jesus, whom they had known since his childhood, did not seem to be the same today. Why had he become so different? In Capernaum, people accepted the teaching of Jesus (Mk 1, 22), but here in Nazareth people were scandalized. They said: “Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?” They did not accept the mystery of God present in a common man like themselves! In order to be able to speak about God, Jesus should be different from them! They will not witness that they believe in him. So everything did not go well for Jesus. The persons who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News of God, these were the persons who were less ready to accept it. The conflict was not only with those outside the house, but also, and above all, with his own relatives and with all the people of Nazareth.
• Matthew 13, 57b-58: Reaction of Jesus before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “a prophet is despised only in his own country”. And in fact he says: a prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own house”. In fact, where there is neither openness nor faith, nobody can do anything. The preconception prevents this. And Jesus himself even wanting, he could not do anything. The Gospel of Mark says this clearly: “And he could work no miracles there, except that he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mk 6, 5-6).
• The brothers and sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers and sisters of Jesus” causes much polemics between Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves on this and other texts, the Protestants say that Jesus had many brothers and sisters and that Mary had other children! Catholics say that Mary did not have other children. What can we think about all this? In the first place, both positions, the Catholic one and the Protestant one, take their argument from the Bible and from the Tradition of their respective Churches. For this reason, it is not convenient to deal with or discuss this question with purely intellectual arguments. In fact, it is a question of profound convictions, which have to do with faith and with the sentiments of both groups. The purely intellectual arguments do not succeed to cancel a conviction of the heart! Rather, this only causes anger and separates people more! But when I do not agree with an opinion of another person, I must respect it. In the second place, instead of struggling around the texts, we all, Catholics and Protestants, should unite more in order to fight to defend life, created by God, a life so disfigured by poverty, by injustice, by the lack of faith, by the lack of respect toward nature. We should keep in mind other phrases of Jesus: “ I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10, 10). “May they all be one, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me” (Jn 17, 21)

4) For personal confrontation

• Jesus had problems with his people. Since you began to participate in the community, has something changed in the relationship with your people?
• Jesus could not work many miracles in Nazareth. Why is faith so important? Perhaps, Jesus could not work miracles without the faith of people? What does this mean for me today?

5) Concluding Prayer

Before the mountains were born,
before the earth and the world came to birth,
from eternity to eternity you are God. (Ps 90,2)

www.ocarm.org