April 28, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

Unlike other notable men of history, Jesus is not just a good rabbi. He is our lifeblood. He is the Vine and we are the branches. Apart from Him, we have no life. But if we abide in Him, we bear much fruit. If we don’t, we wither.

Therefore, we are not merely to obey Jesus’ teachings but to participate in His life. This participation is mystical but also tangible through His divinely ordained community called the Church. In its Eucharist, we can eat His flesh and drink His blood and so abide in Him. He ordained it to be His representative on earth so that in the unity of its members, their oneness with Him is expressed and substantiated. We cannot be one with Him without being one with each other. So be a living and active member of the local parish He tells you to be a part of and love, not what you prefer to join.