May your kingdom come.

John 15:1-8
15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.

15:2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

15:3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.

15:4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

15:6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Introduction

At first, this might not sound true. Many people do good things without Jesus. They help their families, communities, and the world. But we’re different. We’re not just doing good things; we’re doing Jesus’ work. We’re trying to bring God’s loving kingdom. What could be more important than that? But we can’t do it without Jesus. We can’t be who God wants us to be, alone or as a church. Actually, we can’t do anything that really matters to God and the world without Jesus.

That’s the simple truth we’re reminded of today. Without Jesus, as followers, we can’t do anything we truly care about. Nothing. A.W. Tozer, a Christian pastor, said, “Everything is wrong until God fixes it.” When we try to serve God, things are wrong until God makes them right.

While speaking to a group of students, Pope Francis said, “The Lord tells us: ‘Christian life is to remain in me.” (John 15: 1-8). Here, he uses the image of the vine and its branches. And this remains is not a passive remain, a falling asleep in the Lord: this would perhaps be a heavenly sleep, but that’s not it. This remains an active remain, and is a mutual remain. Why? Because He says, “Remain in me and I in you” (v. 4).

He also remains in us, not only us in Him. It’s a mutual remain. In another part, he says, “My Father and I will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).

This is a mystery, but a mystery of life, a beautiful mystery. This mutual remaining. Even with the example of the vine, it is true that the branches without the vine can do nothing because the sap doesn’t get to them; they need the sap to grow and to bear fruit.

But the tree, the vine also needs branches; otherwise the fruits are not attached to the tree, to the vine. It is a mutual need; it is a give-and-take remain to bear fruit.”

So, how do we make sure we’re not on our own, not doing things without Jesus? He tells us, “Stay connected to me.” Stay connected to Jesus just like he stays connected to us. Those who stay connected to Jesus do many good things. That’s the answer: Stay connected to Jesus.

But you might ask, how do we do that? How do we stay connected to Jesus? The answer isn’t a big mystery. It’s what Christians have always done for centuries to stay connected to Jesus:

1. Daily Prayer: Talk to God in prayer every day. Pray in the morning, before meals, at night, and when you feel distant from Jesus. Pray when you’re in trouble. There’s a way of praying called the Divine Office to help boost your prayer life. But even a short “arrow prayer” — like a quick prayer for help or a Bible verse works. Do this during the day, and you’ll stay connected to Jesus.

2. Reading God’s Word: Spend time with the Bible. It feeds our prayers and souls with lasting food. The Bible has God’s words that we need every day. There are many ways to spend time with the Bible, but it is important to do so.

3. Weekly Worship: Worship every week and engage in the Holy Sacraments. Whether in church or at home, worship is important. It resets us spiritually, no matter how good or bad our week was. By the end of the week, we need to reconnect with Jesus.

These three things are the keys to staying connected to Jesus. And how do we know if we’re doing well with Jesus? Just like a doctor checks your health with numbers, we can look at the “fruit” we bear when we’re connected to Jesus.

Jesus said, “Those who stay connected to me bear much good fruit.” The Apostle Paul listed these fruits in Galatians 5 as the “fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

1. Love: Loving God, people, even enemies.

2. Joy: Real joy, not just happiness.

3. Peace: The peace only Jesus brings.

4. Patience: Being calm and patient.

5. Kindness: Being genuinely kind.

6. Generosity: Being generous because we trust God.

7. Faithfulness: Trusting God, having faith in Jesus.

8. Gentleness Being gentle and humble.

9. Self-control: Controlling our desires and actions.

We don’t make ourselves have these fruits. They come when we stay connected to Jesus, like how a tree bears fruit by being rooted. So, to help bring God’s kingdom and do meaningful things, we need to stay connected to Jesus.

Let’s Reflect

So, we ask ourselves-     how are you doing spiritually?

When you think about these fruits, what do they say about your connection to Jesus?

These two questions are a simple way to know whether we’re staying connected to Jesus.

We can’t do God’s will without Jesus. Things are wrong until God fixes them. Alone, we’d mess everything up. We need Jesus to bear good fruit and do what God calls us to do. So, let’s stay connected to Jesus, bear good fruit, and glorify God.

For the full version, click- https://www.popefrancishomilies.com/remain

Prayers of Intercession

Dear God, we come to you with love in our hearts, thinking of all the people in the world. With hope, we imagine a world where justice and love are everywhere. We pray for a fairer world, one filled with peace and justice. May your kingdom come.

We pray for those who are doing your work on Earth: those who work for peace, those who fight for justice, and those who stand up for the oppressed, the exploited, and the underprivileged. We pray for those who are working to end hunger and poverty. May your kingdom come.

We also pray for those who have suffered from injustice: those who have been unfairly discriminated against, falsely accused, or wrongly punished. May your kingdom come.

As we see the effects of climate change, our hearts go out to those who are suffering and displaced because of it. We are thankful for those who offer hospitality and fight for climate justice. May your kingdom come.

Help us, as your Church, to stay connected to Jesus, the true vine, every day. Give us wisdom, integrity, and dedication so we can know where to help. Guide us to act on what you’ve taught us, always seeking your guidance and bearing good fruit. May your kingdom come. Amen.

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I’m Paula Rose Parish — a former atheist of 21 years, Protestant pastor for over 40 years, and now a Catholic convert. After a powerful encounter where Jesus audibly called me to follow Him, my life was forever changed. I’ve ministered across Australia, the USA, and the UK, and today, I share my journey of faith, hope, and transformation.

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