Sunday Gospel Reflection
Sixth Sunday of Easter
John 15: 9-17
The Vine and the Branches
Josie Gonzalez
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you…This is my commandment: love one another as I love you…It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you…love one another.” John 15:9,12,16-17
Ang ebanghelyo ngayong Linggo ay nakatuon sa pagmamahalan at ang pinakadakilang pag-ibig ay ang pagmamahal ng Diyos Ama sa atin. The Almighty Father gave His only begotten Son to save us from sin. Christ Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, and died on the cross to redeem mankind from eternal damnation.
The Gospels last week and today focus on love kung saan pinaaalalahanan tayo na ang puno’t dulo ng ating misyon bilang mga tagasunod ni Kristo ay mahalin ang ating kapwa.
As we fight this invisible enemy, a concrete expression of love for our neighbor is the emergence of community pantries to help the hungry, the jobless who must feed their families, people who need face masks/shields, medicines, and vitamins to help keep them safe, strong, and healthy.
One community pantry that blossomed into many and replicated nationwide is an example of today’s gospel about “trimming branches to bear fruit”. It had to take a selfless “Ana” of the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City to open the eyes of many others just waiting to be “pruned” so they could bear “fruit”. Her small stand has this sign: “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha ayon sa pangangailangan.” Ana’s pantry has converted into a drop-off center for donations and distributed to barangays/centers/LGUs/organizations “ayon sa pangangailangan”.
“The Vine and the Branches” is the story of God the Father as the vine grower, Jesus as the vine, and us as the branches.
Kung ihahabing natin ito sa karaniwang hardin kung saan ay nakatanim ang halamang gumamela, aalagaan ko ito na may sapat na tubig, sikat ng araw, at hangin. Lalagyan ng pataba ang lupa at tatanggalan ko ng mga tuyong dahon at mga insekto na kumakain ng dahon. Babawasan ko ng mga sangang patay para umusbong ang bagong dahon. Sa sapat na panahon, tataba ang gumamela at mamumulaklak nang may taglay na kagandahan.
This is God’s message to us. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. We must have a listening heart. We do not just remain in God for nothing; we have to bear fruit. We have to weed ourselves of greed, anger and pride. Iwasan ang tsismis at pagnanakaw ng oras sa trabaho. Are we loving as much as God loves us? What is our way of life? May “good news” ba ang buhay natin? Pagnilayan natin ito.
Love and mission are inseparable. Ang misyon natin sa Panginoon at sa kasalukuyang buhay ay batay sa pag-ibig. Our mission in life is to give of ourselves, share what we have, and not expect anything in return. Today, more than any other, we are facing a lot of challenges brought about largely by the COVID-19 pandemic: husband/wife fatigue, continued lockdown, joblessness, COVID deaths, mental health problems, restlessness, and fear and paranoia. But despite all these and more, we must constantly remind ourselves that the heavier the burdens, the more pain and suffering, the more the Lord is present in our lives.
It is his “footprints in the sand”, remember? We must dwell on His presence and not allow the negatives to take charge. Mahirap sabihin pero kailangan natin magtiwala that the Almighty will never forsake us. Like the pantries, we must come together as a community during these trying times. Let us help our leaders in government by praying for them and sending letters of encouragement instead of putting them down, and the church and our priests by helping fund their projects for our poor communities. Let us be part of a support group for the sick, our frontliners, and the elderly. There is power in numbers but the greatest force in the universe is love.
I was talking with two of my closest friends in the US—both in their senior years—about the vaccine. Both did not want to have it. But skepticism was easily transformed by love—love from a caring frontliner daughter who worried that when she goes home from work, she might be carrying the virus and infect her mom. Likewise, the mother thinking that since she goes to church regularly and does groceries, she might be a carrier of the virus and infect her grandkids. They got their shots for love.
Gaano kalalim ang pag-ibig natin para sa Diyos? Para sa kapwa natin? Kung mananatili tayong tapat sa Poong Maykapal, ibibigay niya sa atin ang lahat. Let us follow Christ.
A blessed Sunday to all!
