“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.” Jesus is using an image that his early audience could relate to. A vine is made up of branches woven together, working together to produce fruit, but a branch when cut off cannot survive on its own. Jesus is giving us a lesson in living life fully; to do so, we must see ourselves as being connected, like branches, to one another.
Too often, we forget that our actions speak louder than words. “He says that he loves me but he’s never here!” cried one wife, hurt and angry by the turn her marriage had taken. “We kiss each other every morning and he says, ‘I love you,’ but then he calls me from the office to tell me that he’ll be working late and won’t be home for dinner. ‘I love you,’ he says before hanging up. But how am I supposed to believe him? He doesn’t do anything to show me that he loves me!”
That woman’s lament may sound like a plot from a soap opera but her experience describes a reality that is all too common. “I love you” becomes meaningless when those words are not accompanied by deeds. Words are important, but they are not enough to sustain any relationship.
What can be said about our human relationships can also be said about discipleship, that is, our relationship with Jesus Christ. By staying connected with him, he assures us that we can produce much fruit. As branches of Christ, the vine, we are part of something greater than ourselves, something that transforms and transcends the fragility of our lives.
The passage from the first letter of John couldn’t be more blunt. “Children, let us love not in words or speech but in deed and truth.” The author of this letter goes on to say, “Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us.” An example of that Spirit is what we hear about in the first reading from Acts, which describes the change of heart in Paul upon his conversion. Putting his life on the line, he spoke boldly to anyone who would listen.
Today’s readings form a triptych, a three-part illustration of what it means to belong to a post resurrection community.
It is never enough to simply say, “I am a Catholic.” We need to show every day that we are committed to being a branch of the vine that bears fruit, relying on Christ to provide us with the sap of his grace to do our part in living out the message of the gospel by what we do and proclaim.
Years ago while in school, I recall reading about a man without a country. His name was Philip Nolan. In a moment of anger he chose to no longer belong to any nation; consequently he was forbidden to ever step foot on US soil or even hear or see the name of his country ever again. He became a man without a community who experienced what we all eventually realize, that as independent as we might want to be, we desperately need to belong.
In so many ways, we are connected to one another: we learn and grow within the love of family, church, school, and community. Today’s gospel calls us to realize that those connections are centered in the connection between Christ and us and between us and one another. Jesus pleads, “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” In effect, he is saying, “Don’t separate yourself from me; don’t try to make it on your own; don’t renounce your membership in me. You are not without a country; you are not without a community either.” He then makes the point that his Father is glorified when we bear much fruit and become his disciples.
As disciples who make up the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Seattle we see ourselves as branches of a vibrant faith community that supports over 60 ministries from meals for the homeless to affordable housing through CCS to supporting our retired clergy. When you make a pledge to the Appeal, you are not merely saying “Thank you” to our retired sisters; you are acting in gratitude to these women who gave selflessly in service to our schools and hospitals. Your pledge also provides funding for seminarians studying to be our future priests. Your participation in the Annual Catholic Appeal is an act of love that is demonstrated many times every day, providing a future full of hope to many.
Our parish goal is $41745. Last year over half of our parish pledged an average of $ 346. Any monies raised beyond our goal will be returned to the parish and be used for painting the rectory and replacing its fence. If you are among those who haven’t pledged in the past, please consider donating $365, a dollar a day, less than a cup of coffee. Your pledge can be paid by check, cash, credit or debit card, or electronic fund transfer, and can be paid over time until next April or with a one-time payment.
You can make your pledge in several ways: by completing an envelope and dropping it in the basket; pulling out your smart phone and scanning this black square, or going to the diocesan website. If for whatever reason you choose not to make a pledge, I ask that you still turn in an envelope so that we know you have participated in this year’s appeal.
It is absolutely amazing what we can accomplish when we share our gifts. On behalf of Archbishop Sartain, I thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to the Church of Western Washington and our parish. You are a branch that enables the vine to be seen by others.
Keep in mind as you ponder your pledge that the annual Catholic Appeal is not your pledge to support the parish. Look for this flyer if you need to better understand the difference between the two. Alongside that you will find this brochure that gives more information on the Appeal.