Last Sunday, on the 4th Sunday of Easter, we heard Jesus proclaim: “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus as the Good Shepherd knows his flock and his flock knows him; he is willing to lay down his life for his flock. In Ancient Israel, where shepherds and sheep were commonplace, Jesus was speaking in words that the crowds easily understood. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is an image we know so well as followers of Christ. It is such a beloved image that our religious education program for children is called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In today’s Gospel, Jesus states that he he is the true vine and that we are the branches, that if we remain connected to him, we will be able to bear abundant fruit as his disciples. The parable of the vine and the branches is presented in the Gospel of John as a discourse Jesus gives to his disciples before he is arrested and before his death on the cross. In fact, this parable can be seen as an explanation of discipleship. This parable tells us about the relationship between Jesus, his father, and his disciples. We can also see the vine and the branches as being analogous to the people of Israel, as Israel had not been perfect and faithful to God, but Israel continued to be nurtured, because God has so much love for his people. And God gave the people of Israel a new vineyard in his son.
We can see the parable of the vine and the branches in the context of our modern world where we must make difficult decisions each day. Of the choices that are presented to us, some will keep us on the right path while others will lead us astray. In the advent of social media, cell phones, the internet, and technology that puts everything right before our very eyes, this can add to the challenge. Can we stop texting or stop playing video games to make time for prayer and to make time for a conversation with Jesus? All this puts pressure on our life of faith. It can cut off the branch from the vine. It can disconnect us from Jesus. We can be lured away from our connection with him.
As part of the small group program called QUADS that some of us are starting here at St Jude, there is a self-assessment aligning to the characteristics that are essential for discipleship. The first characteristic is being rooted in our identity as a son or daughter of God. We receive this identity in our baptism. The truth of this identity builds the foundation for us to be able to make our major decisions in life, living out our vocation of discipleship, and living out our God-given purpose each day. For me, I really felt my identity as a disciple of Christ when I served as a lay missionary in places like Canada and Ecuador. I identified as a missionary disciple working as a public high school teacher up in the Mississippi Delta, even though that work was in a public school. As priest, I am very cognizant of the need to constantly nurture my priestly identity. No matter what our vocation or our status in life, as Catholics, we must feel this identity of discipleship. Through our identity as disciples, we are connected to Jesus like the vine is connected to the branches, looking at it in the context of today's Gospel.
Another important characteristic is to be in fellowship with other disciples. Indeed, a life of discipleship is not a journey taken in isolation, but rather it is connected to a community and to a fellowship with others. This means more than being surrounded by others in a faith community in places like Mass; it also means having frequent fellowship with friends in that faith community to help us grow in a trusted and authentic friendship where Jesus is the foundation and where there is a mutual desire to help each other grow as disciples of Christ. Our small groups and programs like ALPHA are places where this came happen. I know that we all have busy lives, but making time for these opportunities is important. I make time to be involved with three different faith sharing small groups during the week. I have also started as an inquirer for the Carmelite secular order as well, which I am able to do as a Diocesan priest. As I mentioned, even as a priest it is important for me to make time for things like this as well.
This weekend we as a community celebrate first communion with our children and their families. The Gospel of the vine and the branches is perfect for the weekend we celebrate this sacrament. Perhaps during the pandemic, we have grown to appreciate the Eucharist even more. Right now with priests who have passed away or who have entered retirement, priests that are dealing with health problems, there are some parishes that might not be able to have the Eucharist every week. You all know that I cover the parishes of Paulding and Newton. I have been the only priest covering those parishes for more than a year and a half; I go there for Mass once a month at the most.
Our faith and the Eucharist we share are gifts from God. Through them, we are connected to the Body of Christ like the vine is connected to the branch. No matter what challenges we face, we are with Jesus and with our brothers and sister on our journey of faith.
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