Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 29th April 2018

Christ the True Vine icon Greek 16C

Fifth Sunday after Easter

"Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth". (I Jn 3:18)

I'm not sure who would agree with me, and perhaps these are the thoughts of a less tolerant older person, but I wonder if we don't have far too many words surrounding us each day? I don't mean those enjoyable reads in books or newspapers; but the sheer volume of spoken word coming at us, not necessarily from conversations with each other, but from TV presenters, parliamentarians, pundits, spokespersons and of course the Media itself. I find it overwhelming, the constant barrage of 'information' doesn't make the pursuit of knowledge any easier, and in my case it often confuses me.

Communication is important for human beings, the whole ministry of Jesus and also our own, is bound up with proclaiming the Gospel, but in a manner and way that touches others, opening our hearts and minds, engaging us by drawing us into the encounter between the living God and ourselves. We all know that words can be barriers, the old adage "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" isn't always true. We can and do hurt by words especially by telling lies, untruths sown in malice to cause division.

Jesus is well aware of our behaviour, and shows us that the Good News is in total contrast with 'fake news', our ridiculous and manipulative attitude towards the power and truthfulness of words. Aware of what we can get up to, Jesus paints a picture of himself as our grapevine. Like all vines of good quality it needs to be of good stock. To bear fruit we, its branches, need not only careful feeding but radical and accurate pruning done with true knowledge and reflection.

In our case Jesus points out that his words, the Word of God, has already started that process by calling us to truth by conversion, offering us forgiveness, love and salvation in and with Him. But he is unequivocal in what he offers, we are to remain in Him, because as he puts it: "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". (Jn 15:5)

Jesus does not ask us to talk endlessly, discussing our and other people's faith. His own example is to make us aware that we must live and speak the truth. This we do by being truthful people, balancing what we do and say by producing good fruit in deeds of loving-kindness!

Lectio Divina

St Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of John.

From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in him and our love for him. Like branches growing from a vine, we now draw our life from Christ, and we cling to his holy commandment in order to preserve this life. Eager to safeguard the blessing of our noble birth, we are careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and who makes us aware of God's presence in us.

Let the wisdom of John teach us how we live in Christ and Christ lives in us: The proof that we are living in him and he is living in us is that he has given us a share in his Spirit. Just as the trunk of the vine gives its own natural properties to each of its branches, so, by bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the only-begotten Son of the Father, gives Christians a certain kinship with himself and with God the Father because they have been united to him by faith and determination to do his will in all things. He helps them to grow in love and reverence for God, and teaches them to discern right from wrong and to act with integrity.

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for Melkites in the UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.