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Sunday Reflections  

5th Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:26-31

1 John 3:18-24

John 15:1-8

The Gospel today is the 2nd part of the discourse to the Apostles given by Jesus at the Last Supper.  In the 1st part of this discourse Jesus firstly told the Apostles that “I am with you only a little while longer” and then He went on to assure them “I go to prepare a place for you” and that He himself is “Way” to that place.  His assurance to them is that He will not leave them orphans but that “I will send you the Advocate, the Spirit”. Despite all of these promises and using the wonderful images, like the ‘Good Shepherd’, to describe himself, it seemed that the disciples still had doubts and questions. To the searching question of Philip Jesus answers “Have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me?” 

Was the Lord getting impatient with his chosen ones? Now he would use an allegory which they would surely understand. He would refer to the vine in stone which was carved on the façade of their Temple.  This carved vine symbolised Israel, God’s people. The carving was adorned in gold and rich businessmen considered it a great honour to have contributed the gold to extend and decorate it – it was a symbol of the growth of the people of Israel. So, Jesus would present himself as the vine and anyone who is part of that vine will bear fruit.

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