fruit that it may bear even more fruit. You are already made clean by the word I have spoken
to you. Live in me as I live in you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself, but has to remain
part of the vine; so neither can you, if you don’t remain in me. I am the vine and you are the
branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from
me you can do nothing. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown away, as they do with
branches, and they wither. Then they are gathered and thrown into the fire and
burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you
want, and it will be given to you. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit: it is
then that you become my disciples.

Reflect

Some people have a green thumb. They can make any plant – fruit, vegetable, or house
plant – grow and thrive. I am the opposite. Two weeks in my house is basically a death
sentence for any plant. No matter how hard I try, I can’t keep a plant alive.

It is the same for us if we are cut off from Christ. Without him, we cannot thrive. Without
him, we cannot grow. Without him, we cannot bear fruit. Christ is life. Without him there
is only death, like branches burned on the fire or dead plants tossed on the compost pile.

So how do we remain in Christ and bear fruit? We remain in him through his Church and
his sacraments as they draw us more deeply into the Body of Christ. We rest in his Word,
praying and reflecting on his message and his promises. Finally, we remain close to Christ
by accompanying our brothers and sisters, especially those in greatest need. By giving
word and sacrament flesh in our loving actions, our faith will bear abundant fruit in our
lives and in our world.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023