Fruits of the Vine
May 10: Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Even while Jesus is preparing to return to the Father, He talks to the disciples about what they ought to be doing on Earth. In the first reading, we see the way applying that isn’t always obvious, and needs some debate.
Reading 1
Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved."
Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters about this question. They were sent on their journey by the Church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
This is the first ecumenical council, known as the Jerusalem Council. It sounds like they’re debating a minor point—whether or not Christian men have to get circumcised.
But circumcision is actually a metonym for the Mosaic law as a whole. Do new converts to Christianity have to become Jewish, too? Remember, it was only a little while before this1 that believers in Antioch started calling themselves “Christians” at all.
So are Christians a type of Jew, or are they something different? The Council of Jerusalem will have to decide.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
This was a song to be sung on your way to visit Jerusalem, according to the Law. The singers are excited, not only because Jerusalem is a big, bustling city, “with compact unity,” but it’s the seat of God in the temple.
Even if you lived in the provinces or were part of the diaspora, visiting Jerusalem was like going home.
Alleluia
Jn 15:4a, 5b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Doing good deeds is obviously, well, good. But it’s because of our union with God that we’re able to do things.
Gospel
Jn 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. 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. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
This is a relatively straightforward parable.2 Branches bear fruit because they're connected to the vine; their fruit is proof that they are connected.
Same with us. When we’re connected to Jesus, we can produce good deeds. Others can see those good deeds, and know we’re connected to Jesus. That should, hopefully, draw them to him, as well.
Because ultimately, that’s the point of Christianity, the Good News that we’ll be with Jesus in heaven.
It’s not quite a “parable” because it’s not a story; I guess it’s more of an extended metaphor.