Daily Reflection for Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051320.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 15: 1-6
Responsorial: Psalm 122:1-5
Gospel: John 15: 1-8
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“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.” John 15: 5b and 6
We have a home in Florida where there is an 11-month growing season. Everything grows and grows and grows. Weeds, needle sharp thickets, poisonous plants as well as beautiful palms, oaks, flowering shrubs, fruit trees and vegetables. It only takes a few months for everything to grow out of control.
My peaceful meditation and prayer place is our sunroom where I look out on a small garden of palms and shrubs. I love the beauty of each distinct plant and tree. When they start to grow out of control, Al prunes them. As he trims, the beautiful foliage falls away and they look stripped and damaged. This is when I start to panic. We cut too much! We destroyed the natural beauty! The plants will die! When I stress about that, Al reminds me that connected to the root, they will flourish and grow back even more lush and beautiful.
At times in my life I felt crushed, broken and bruised; fearful I could not survive the onslaught of events. I understand that connected to the vine “Jesus” and rooted in the love of the Father, I survived and flourished. I lived and appreciated blessings beyond measure.
But, I also remember those painful events, when I felt alone and disconnected, like the branch that was cut off rather than the plant still connected to the roots. However, somehow I knew I wasn’t the pruned branch ready for the fire. I am a branch still connected to the vine and rooted in the Father. He will not let me go.
And the words of Jesus bring comfort to me…I have already been pruned and I will produce much fruit. And I want to remain in the vineyard.
What fruit will we bear? How will the Father continue to prune us?
God bless you+
Ruth Mytty