Fifth Sunday of Easter – April 28, 2024

04-28-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Matthew Duclos

Thinking back to when our neophytes were catechumens prior to the Easter Vigil, I always appreciate hearing their stories about how they came to the Catholic faith. For some, it was a spiritual conversion, maybe witnessing a healing or being directed in prayer. For others, it may have been more intellectual, asking questions and investigating the answers, leading them to the truths of the faith. Either way, the Holy Spirit’s presence is quite apparent whenever we examine the trajectories of these individuals.

And when people came into the faith, they ultimately had to give up something. Maybe they gave up a particular denomination as they entered the Catholic Church. Maybe they gave up a disbelief in God, or gave up an ignorance of Christ. Maybe they gave up a sinful behavior and took on a spiritual devotion.

Making a decision to go in one direction naturally means making a decision not to go in any number of other directions. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” comes to mind immediately. When we choose to come to church to worship God and receive Jesus through the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, we are choosing not to ignore Jesus. In that sense, we are choosing to remain on the branch of Christ, remain connected to him so we can grow and be nurtured from him.

The first reading from Acts concludes with an encouraging statement: “the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” We did indeed see our Church and our parishes grow in numbers at the Easter Vigil as people were baptized and confirmed into the faith. Through these sacraments, especially through the Eucharist, those people connected themselves to the vine of Christ.

The initial connection to the branch, although a critically important step, is far from the last step. Each and every day we must remain on the branch, remain on the vine, because Jesus says, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” Jesus never departed from God the Father who is the vine grower, and thus we should never depart from Jesus the vine. The question of how to remain steadfastly connected to the vine of Christ is one that often occupies the hearts and minds of believers. John offers a clear answer in the second reading, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God’s commandments as the key to abiding in Christ. By conscientiously adhering to the teachings and example set forth by Jesus, and by partaking in the spiritual nourishment provided through the sacrament of the Eucharist, we solidify our connection to the vine. It is through these intentional actions that we cultivate a deep and enduring relationship with Christ, allowing his life-giving presence to permeate every aspect of our being.

The Church, as the mystical body of Christ, experiences continual growth and renewal with each passing day. This growth is not merely numerical but is also characterized by an ever-deepening spiritual connection among its members. As more individuals actively seek the grace and guidance offered through the sacraments, they are drawn into the loving embrace of the vine, finding sustenance and strength in their union with Christ. Moreover, as new souls are engrafted into the vine through baptism and conversion, the Church expands its reach, encompassing an ever-widening circle of believers. The ongoing building up of the Church is not merely a static process but a dynamic journey of spiritual transformation, wherein each member contributes to the flourishing of the body as a whole.Granted, we’re a long way from next year’s Easter Vigil, but that shouldn’t stop us for praying for those will becoming connected to Christ and his Church next year. Just think of the countless number of baptisms that will also happen between then and now, each one a new leaf on the vine of Christ. And although we may not yet know their names, we may not yet know their stories, God already does and the Holy Spirit is at work, nourishing us, keeping us connected to Christ.