Readings: Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48, Ps. 98:1-4, 1 John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
Two Sundays ago, Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd; without Jesus, we are like sheep without a shepherd. Last Sunday, Jesus described Himself as the Vine while we are the branches; cut off from Jesus, we can do nothing. Today, Jesus calls us His friends. We are no longer servants because Jesus has revealed His true identity to us. As friends of Jesus, we have been called and commissioned to bear fruits. In other words, it is not enough to be connected to the vine as branches; we must be fruitful and bear fruits that last. What does it mean to bear fruits for Jesus? What must we do to bear these fruits? What do we gain by bearing fruits for Jesus? How do we ensure that our fruits last? These are some of the lessons we shall learn today:
1. Christian Fruitfulness Lies in Winning Souls for God’s Kingdom.
By describing us as branches of the vine, Jesus points to our total dependence on Him and emphasises our role as carriers of the Vine’s fruits. You cannot be a true Christian without bearing fruits. You cannot be light, yet fail to shine on at least one person – bringing them out of the darkness of sin and ignorance. You cannot be salt without anyone ever getting to taste your sweetness. As Christians, we are influencers – we always attract people by our words and lifestyle, not to ourselves but to Jesus Christ.
Let us now examine our hearts: “Since I became a Christian, how many people have I won over from darkness to light? How many have completely repented of evil or the worship of false gods through me?” If your honest answer is zero, it means you are not different from that fig tree covered with leaves, but when Jesus went close to it, he found no fruits on it and in anger, Jesus cursed it. (Cf. Mark 11:13-22). However, unlike that fruitless tree, I bring you Good News today: You are not cursed; you still have all it takes to start bearing fruits. If you are unhappy about the moral decadence in society, it means God has called you. Go beyond complaining; become God’s instrument – start saving souls, start creating an army of God-fearing and upright people. Remember, it is not just about bearing fruits (quantity) but fruits that last (quality).
2. To Be Fruitful, Never Look Down on Anybody. God Has No Favourites.
In today’s First Reading, Peter visited Cornelius. This visit was not regular or casual; it was a meeting arranged by the Holy Spirit (the principal agent of evangelisation). In Acts 10, we read that Cornelius, a Centurion in the Roman Army, was a “devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God.” (Acts 10:2). So many persons are not Christians but are more qualified for heaven than many who go to Church. They are unbaptised, but by their lifestyles, they are closer to God than those who claim to be baptised and confirmed. One day, while Cornelius was praying, he saw a vision instructing him to send for Peter. This reminds us of what Jesus taught us last Sunday. A branch can only bear fruit when it is connected to the vine. You can only succeed in winning a soul when God has done His background work on the person.
As Cornelius prayed, Peter also entered a trance where he saw various animals considered unclean for food. Peter was told to “kill and eat.” When he protested, a voice said to him: “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” (Acts 10:15). Never look down on anybody. Never call anybody “common this” or “common that” because of where they come from, their religion, nationality or background. When Peter got to Cornelius’ house, he understood the meaning of the trance: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35). Peter was still speaking when he and those with him saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Cornelius and His entire household, and they spoke in tongues as the disciples did on Pentecost Day. Never look down on anybody; learn to see God in every person you encounter. We are all children of God. Today’s Psalm says: “God has shown deliverance to the nations.” God has no favourites, and as His branches, we must avoid discrimination.
3. To Be Fruitful, We Must Love (Especially Our Enemies) As Jesus Loved Us
Love is not a feeling of attraction to someone. Love is not getting close to someone because of what we hope to gain from them. Love is not the pleasantries we exchange with others when we seek to gain friends. Love is not being nice to people because they were nice to us in the past. What, then, is love? In today’s Second Reading, St. John answers: “This is Love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1st John 4:10). Love is sacrifice. “Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). Jesus did not say, “Love your neighbour as yourself” rather, he said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” How did Jesus love? He was kind to those who hated him. He forgave those who killed Him. Jesus asked: “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46). No wonder St. John says: “He who does not love (cannot forgive) does not know God.” When we love others as Jesus loved us, we cannot but bear fruits because we would be incarnating Christ in the world.
4. God Rewards Our Fruitfulness With Answered Prayers.
Still, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” In other words, a connection exists between bearing fruits (winning souls for God’s kingdom) and answered prayers. When we are committed to expanding God’s kingdom, God rewards our efforts by granting our prayers. This is why the apostles recorded many great miracles, signs and wonders. As St. Mark reports: “They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it.” (Mark 16:20). Do you want God to give you whatever you are asking for? Then, do what God wants; seek His kingdom and righteousness first, and everything you ask will come to you. (Cf. Matthew 6:33).
Let us pray: Almighty, teach me to love just as you did that in love, I may truly bear fruits for you. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen
Remember, amid all challenges, choose to be happy. Live with a positive mindset and believe in God’s plan for you. God bless you abundantly. (6th Sunday of Easter Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48, Ps. 98:1-4, 1 John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu