Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
(Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8)
“Mary’s Meals” sounds like a local church outreach to impoverished
homebound people. The reality, however,
is that the organization feeds three million children a day at educational
sites in seventeen underdeveloped countries.
The organization was founded by a Catholic Scotsman as the fruit of his
devotion to the Blessed Mother. It exemplifies
the abundant fruit on the branches in today’s gospel parable.
Jesus uses the image of a vine and branches to indicate the potential
of his love. Staying connected to Jesus,
disciples receive a copious supply of his love.
Nourished by that love, they will do much good. Disciples are under the Father’s care. He will prune them of defects that hinder fructification. But disciples must stay connected to Jesus
through Scripture and the sacraments. If
they wander from him, their fruit will taste like bitter grapes.
Sometimes our lives become very busy. We have a dozen things to do and very little
time. We may have to limit our prayer,
but we should never eliminate it. Quite
the contrary, we should pray as we begin to address the demands before us and
periodically turn to Jesus in our activity.
Keeping Jesus in mind will make our work abundantly worthwhile.
