2008 년 4 월 23 일 부활 제 5 주간 수요일 제 1 독서 사도행전 . 15 , 1 - 6 그 무렵 1 유다 에서 어떤 사람 들 이 내려와 , “ 모세 의 관습 에 따라 할례 를 받 지 않 으면 여러분 은 구원 을 받 을 수 없 습니다 . ” 하 고 형제 들 을 가르쳤 다 . 2 그리하여 바오로 와 바르나바 두 사람 과 그 들 사이 에 적 지 않 은 분쟁 과 논란 이 일어나 , 그 문제 때문 에 바오로 와 바르나바 와 신자 들 가운데 다른 몇 사람 이 예루살렘 에 있 는 사도 들 과 원로 들 에게 올라가 기 로 하 였 다 . 3 이렇게 안티오키아 교회 에서 파견 된 그 들 은 페니키아 와 사마리아 를 거쳐 가 면서 , 다른 민족 들 이 하느님 께 돌아선 이야기 를 해 주 어 모든 형제 에게 큰 기쁨 을 주 었 다 . 4 그 들 은 예루살렘 에 도착 하 여 교회 와 사도 들 과 원로 들 의 영 ? ? 받 고 , 하느님 께서 자기 들 과 함께 해 주 신 모든 일 을 보 고 하 였 다 . 5 그런데 바리사이파 에 속하 였 다가 믿 게 된 사람 몇 이 나서 서 , “ 그 들 에게 할례 를 베풀 고 또 모세 의 율법 을 지키 라고 명령 해야 합니다 . ” 하 고 말 하 였 다 . 6 사도 들 과 원로 들 이 이 문제 를 검토 하 려고 모였 다 . 복음 요한 . 15 , 1 - 8 그때 에 예수 님 께서 제자 들 에게 말씀 하 셨 다 . 1 “ 나 는 참포 도 나무 요 나 의 아버지 는 농부 이시다 . 2 나 에게 붙 어 있 으면서 열매 를 맺 지 않 는 가지 는 아버지 께서 다 쳐내 시 고 , 열매 를 맺 는 가지 는 모두 깨끗이 손질 하 시 어 더 많 은 열매 를 맺 게 하 신다 . 3 너희 는 내 가 너희 에게 한 말 로 이미 깨끗 하 게 되 었 다 . 4 내 안 에 머물 러라 . 나 도 너희 안 에 머무르 겠 다 . 가지 가 포도나무 에 붙 어 있 지 않 으면 스스로 열매 를 맺 을 수 없 는 것 처럼 , 너희 도 내 안 에 머무르 지 않 으면 열매 를 맺 지 못한다 . 5 나 는 포도나무 요 너희 는 가지 다 . 내 안 에 머무르 고 나 도 그 안 에 머무르 는 사람 은 많 은 열매 를 맺 는다 . 너희 는 나 없이 아무것 도 하 지 못한다 . 6 내 안 에 머무르 지 않 으면 잘린 가지 처럼 밖 에 던져져 말 라 버린다 . 그러면 사람 들 이 그런 가지 들 을 모아 불 에 던져 태워 버린다 . 7 너희 가 내 안 에 머무르 고 내 말 이 너희 안 에 머무르 면 , 너희 가 원 하 는 것 은 무엇 이 든지 청하 여라 . 너희 에게 그대로 이루어질 것 이 다 . 8 너희 가 많 은 열매 를 맺 고 내 제자 가 되 면 , 그것 으로 내 아버지 께서 영광 스럽 게 되 실 것 이 다 . ” April 23 , 2008 Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter . 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 debateby Paul and Barnabas with them , it was decided that Paul , Barnabas , and some of the othersshould go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbytersabout this question . They were sent on their journey by the Church , and passed through Phoenicia and Samariatelling 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 believersstood up and said , “ It is necessary to circumcise themand direct them to observe the Mosaic law . ” The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter . Responsorial Psalm 122 : 1 - 2 , 3 - 4 ab , 4 cd - 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 footwithin your gates , O Jerusalem . R . Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord . or : R . Alleluia . Jerusalem , built as a citywith 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 . GospelJn 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 ownunless 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 mewill be thrown out like a branch and wither ; people will gather them and throw them into a fireand 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 . ” IntroductionImplanted by baptism in Christ , the true vine , and therefore by vocation and by our very Christian being called to be one 　 in him , we often fall apart into factions because of our background of land and culture , regionalisms and differences of language , social origins and classes , conservatives against progressives . So it was in the early Church : Christians discriminated because of their pagan origins , parties even among those of Jewish extraction . Are we any better ? No wonder that we bear little fruit … Let the Lord prune and purify us and unite us all in Christ as branches on the same vine . CommentaryThe image of the vine and the branches is simple yet challenging . We know from human experience that branches must stay connected to the vine in order to live and bear fruit . Still , in our moments of weakness we can try to find success and happiness when living disconnected from the Lord who is the vine , the source of life . Sin separates us from God , making it impossible for us to bear fruit . Only God can reconnect a withered branch to the vine and fill it with life and fruitfulness . Such is the power and the mystery of His Divine Mercy . the branchesJesus said , " I am the vine , youare the branches . . . . You can donothing apart from me . John 15 : 4 Aesop , an ancient Greek teacher , used stories to instruct his pupils . One story is about a father whose sons were always fighting among themselves . one 　 day he called them together and set in front of them a bundle of small branches . Then he invited each son to break the bundle in half . Of course , no son could . Then the father gave them the branches -- one by one 　-- to break . They did so with ease . The father then made his point : " My sons , if you remain united , you will be able to withstand any difficulty . If you don ' t , it will be able to defeat you . How does this story relate to Jesus ' point regarding the vine and the branches ? It is impossible for the Church to remain on its feet if it doesn ' t get on its knees . E . C . McKenzie The lesson in today ’ s parable that is of great importance for us all is : We can ’ t do it alone . We are the branches in the parable and we aren ’ t worth a plugged nickel if we are severed from the vine . If I am joined to the vine , I will bear much fruit . If I am severed from the vine , I can do nothing , I will bear no fruit at all . Sometimes we think we are so independent . Nothing could be more wrong . Yet many of us take this idea of being independent and try to run with it through life . I did just this for I don ’ t know how many years until I finally realized what a dummy I was in thinking and acting this way and began to try and surrender to God , to let him be in the driver ’ s seat . And things have been going just fine since then . Before , when I was running the whole show , it was disaster . Someone is trying to tell me something . Lord , please help me to remain in you , to be dependent on you , so I can bear the fruit you want me to bear . Fr . Howard « Live in me as I live in you » Today , onc 　 e more , we may see Jesus surrounded by the Apostles in an atmosphere of especial intimacy . He is giving them what we could consider as his final recommendations : what is normally said in the last moment , in the last farewell ; that which has an especial force , as if it would be the last will . We imagine them in the cenacle . Jesus has washed their feet there , has announced them again He must go , has transmitted them his command of fraternal love and has consoled them with the gift of the Eucharistic and the promise of the Holy Spirit ( cf . Jn 14 ) . And , well ahead this 15 th chapter of John ' s Gospel we now find the exhortation to unity within charity . Our Lord does not hide to his disciples all the dangers and difficulties they will have to face in the near future : « If they persecuted Me they will persecute you . ..» ( Jn 15 : 20 ) . But they should not be intimidated nor overwhelmed by all the hate they will find in this world : Jesus renews his promise of the arrival of the Protector , while assuring them they may ask and they will be given . Finally , the Lord prays for them — for all of us — to the Holy Father during his priestly prayer ( cf . Jn 17 ) . But our danger does not come from outside , though : the worst menace may arise within ourselves when we fail to respect the fraternal love among the members of Christ ' s Mystic Body or the unity with the Head of that Body . The recommendation is clear : « I am the vine and you are the branches . As long as you remain in me and I in you , you bear much fruit ; but apart from me you can do nothing » ( Jn 15 : 5 ) . The first generations of Christians managed to keep a very clear conscience of the importance of remaining united through charity . Here is the testimony of one 　 the Fathers of the Church , saint Ignatius of Antioch : « Do you therefore all run together as into one 　 temple of God , as to one 　 altar , as to one 　 Jesus Christ , who came forth from one 　 Father ». And here is also an indication from the Virgin Mary , Mother of the Christians : « Whatsoever he said unto you , do [ it ] » ( Jn 2 : 5 ) . The celebration of Easter brought with it the renewal of our Baptismal promises . The covenant that Baptism strikes between the follower of Jesus and the Trinity gives the disciple the power to take up the mission ( work ) of Jesus on earth . Perhaps we have heard this so often that we are in danger that sheer familiarity may breed bored indifference both to the power we have been given by the Spirit , and to the work that the power will make possible . Thus , throughout the Easter Season we are called by the Church to ponder carefully the mission of Jesus embedded now in the Church in this time and place . Two aspects of mission jump out at me from today ’ s readings : conflict that clarifies and focuses the task , and the importance of “ remaining ” in Jesus . The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us rather matter - of - factly of the first major controversy and conflict among the apostolic leaders ( and the communities they founded or served ) in the first decades of the Church ’ s existence . The crisis over gentile acceptance of the Jewish Law , including and especially the command to circumcise all male children , was a watershed event in the early communities . The conflict was intense . Its difficult resolution set the stage for the breadth of the mission among the gentiles , locating salvation and discipleship for gentiles within a baptismal relationship with Jesus and all his disciples . The theological and practical aspects of the controversy forced early Christians to recognize this personal bond of identity in Jesus ( Paul will later be understood to say “ It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me . ”). It also became clear that gentile participation in God ’ s promised redemption of Israel is accomplished through a unity of Being in Jesus , a circumcised Jew . Because we are “ in Christ ” and he is circumcised we don ’ t have to be . On the dark side the controversy probably caused Paul to lose his life because those who turned him over to the Roman authorities were folks convinced that the commands of the Mosaic Law had to remain in place . Another negative consequence resulted from the interpretation of New Testament literaturec ( developed in the controversy ) which contributed to a strong streak of anti - Judaism in Christianity that was to bear much bitter fruit right down to the present . In case we miss the importance Baptismal immersion into the being of Jesus , both human and divine , we need to attend closely to the second reading from John , in which Jesus is pleading with us – even commanding us – to “ remain ” in him as he will remain in us . Then , whatever we accomplish will have affects ( fruit ) beyond our wildest imagination and most certainly infinitely beyond our limited human capacity to produce anything worthwhile . This principle of remaining in Christ as he remains in us reminds me of an occasion some years ago when I was preaching a mission in one 　 of the parishes of the Boston Archdiocese . It was during the “ year of the Eucharist ” and I had been speaking on various aspects of Eucharistic faith for months . I love the topic , but this mission was taking place late in the Lenten season and I was up against many deadlines in my studies and my work , family were visiting from out of town , and I had just begun to recover from a bout of some virus or other . I was out of sorts and felt remarkably out of touch with the people to whom I was privileged to speak . At the end of the presentation I did not feel that I had done a very good job . The dauntingly unemotional New Englanders in front of me did little to inspire any hope that the evening might bear some spiritual fruit . But as I was leaving the Church after the prayer service I was stopped by an elderly man who asked me a question based on what I had said in the talk . When I confirmed my earlier statement about Christ ’ s presence remaining within and among us he began to weep . Then he told me of a long life as a baptized Catholic with minimal catechesis and little appreciation for the richness of his tradition that had suddenly been unlocked during the presentation that evening . The power of Christ remaining in me produced fruit that I could neither have hoped for nor imagined in this man ’ s life . He , in turn , gave faith back to me in his joy and gratitude . How appropriate it is to respond to God ’ s mercy : Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord ! ( Ps 122 ) . by Eileen Burke - SullivanTheology Department “ He who abides in me , and I in him , he it is that bears much fruit ” 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 onl 　 y 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 . " Psalm 122 : 1 - 5 1 I was glad when they said to me , " Let us go to the house of the LORD ! " 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates , O Jerusalem ! 3 Jerusalem , built as a city which is bound firmly together , 4 to which the tribes go up , the tribes of the LORD , as was decreed for Israel , to give thanks to the name of the LORD . 5 There thrones for judgment were set , the thrones of the house of David . Trust the Church ! You probably have had the experience of being told by an ardent friend or family member that this devotion or this religious practice or these gestures and postures are the correct one 　 s . " Follow them ! " And , you may even have had someone else , equally devout , tell you that a different devotion , a different practice or even contrary gestures and postures are the correct one 　 s . If you have had this experience on a small scale , you can appreciate the first reading , Acts 15 : 1 - 6 . Those who had come down from Judea insisted that the Mosaic practice of circumcision had to be included in the conversion for Gentiles ; otherwise , they would not be saved . Now , these are not evil men out to undermine the early church . They are determined men who had reached a conclusion and were sticking to it . on the other side of the debate will be those who hold firmly that baptism alone is what is needed . The solution the local church decided on was to send Paul , Barnabas and some others to Jerusalem where the early church was still centered . on the journey they taught and they told of the acceptance of the Gospel by the Gentiles . It was a cause of rejoicing and great joy . This is a lesson : to look at the fruit , and even when there is legitimate controversy to spread the good news . Be inclined to joy . It says here in Acts , that the " apostles and the presbyters met together about this matter . " As the subsequent passages will tell us , the early Church comes to a conclusion rejecting this proposal . The Holy Spirit has worked with the Apostles and presbyters ’ discernment . We should be inclined by them to submit to the Church which has wisely organized itself so that local matters are dealt with locally , then diocesan - wide for the most part by the Bishop , and of course , matters for the universal Church by Synods and other forms of ｅxpression of the College of Bishops in unity with the Pope , the Universal Shepherd and Teacher . Jesus makes it clear in the Gospel , John 15 : 1 - 8 , that you cannot live apart from Him . Tend to your relationship with Him and His Body the Church ; tend to unity and the charity that bears good fruit . - Fr . Stephen Gratto Prayer is the conscious ｅxpression of union with God like a branch in union with the vine . Prayer is also pruning . There is a dual motion in God ' s embracing of us in prayer . First , he allows us to penetrate into the very Center of God which is the Holy Trinity . Second , God penetrates into the deepest parts of our soul to our very personal identity . He enters there to prune us , to purge us , to cleanse us of all that is false and destructive . In that way of praying we live and abide in Christ . The vine is deep in the ground to receive the nutrients of life . It is also turned to the sun in its leaves . The vine must search in both directions . We are an attended - to and cared - for vine . We are not a wild vine . We belong in the garden of a solicitous vine dresser . Prayer brings us into God and brings God into us , all under the pruning action of the Father . Does society exist for the benefit of its members , as Herbert Spencer believed , or the members for the benefit of society ? If you say the first , you seem to be setting the stage for complete individualism ; but if you say the second are you not sponsoring fascism ? So which is it going to be ? We spontaneously assume that questions are perfectly clear and correctly put , and that onl 　 y answers can be true or false . ( This assumption may have something to do with our early schooling . ) But there can be false questions , and the question above is surely false . It is like asking whether your head is for the benefit of your body , or your body for the benefit of your head . In a living organism everything is for the benefit of everything else . The question assumes a false opposition . St Paul said Jesus is the head of his body , the Church ; he is the head , we the bodily members ( see Colossians 1 : 18 ) . We cannot be divided from the head and retain any life at all . Nor can a member separated from the body remain alive . A living body is an organism , not a collection of parts . We have to be careful about the images we use to describe the Church . False separations creep in subtly . The image in today ’ s reading is even more striking than Paul ’ s : a vine and its branches . Unlike a tree , where you can distinguish clearly between trunk and branches , the vine is just all branches ! “ I am the vine and you are the branches ” : the vine is the branches ! THE NECESSITY , IMPOSSIBILITY , ANDGRACE OF OBEDIENCE " If you live in Me , and My words stay part of you , you may ask what you will ? it will be done for you . " � ohn 15 : 7 We will bear fruit abundantly , that is , we will lead people to Christ , if we live in Jesus ( Jn 15 : 5 ) . We live in Jesus by obeying His commandments ( see Jn 15 : 10 , 14 ) . Thus , evangelization is a simple matter of obedience to the Lord . Although obedience is simple , it ' s the most difficult thing to do . Adam and Eve can testify to that . Look at Jesus ' " dreadful " obedience on Calvary . He obeyed even to death on a cross ( Phil 2 : 8 ) . He learned obedience from what He suffered ( Heb 5 : 8 ) . Although obedience is difficult , even impossible , " nothing is impossible with God " ( Lk 1 : 37 ) . His grace is always sufficient ( 2 Cor 12 : 9 ) . We face no temptation for which God does not give us the strength to overcome ( 1 Cor 10 : 13 ) . We can always obey . We can ' t always get our way , accomplish our goals , overcome problems , be accepted , know what we ' re doing , feel good , etc . Many things are beyond our control , but we can always obey and therefore always bear the fruit of evangelization . Obeying the Lord is both our problem because it ' s impossibly difficult and our power because we can always obey by God ' s grace . We are privileged to lead lives " of obedience to Jesus Christ " ( 1 Pt 1 : 2 ) and thereby lead others to give their lives to Him . Prayer : Father , may I obey You by submitting to authority . Promise : " The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria , telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went . Their story caused great joy . " � cts 15 : 3 Praise : St . George ' s great faith and trust in God was the catalyst for the baptisms of many .