"I am the vine, you are the branches"

Jesus has just told his disciples that he will soon be leaving them to go back to the Father. In his final discourse, he looks for a striking example that will remind us that he will always be with us and that we are to remain united with him. He sees the many grape vines that grow in Israel. ''I am the true vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in them, bears fruit in plenty.''(John15:1-8). We have been grafted on to the true vine at our baptism and we will only fulfil our vocation to bring the fruit of good works into the world if we remain fully united to him. How can we remain united with him amidst the pressing needs that seem to eat up so much of our time? The Spanish writer, Antonio Pagola teaches, ''The Spirit of the Risen Lord remains present in his voice recorded in the gospels. Nothing has more evangelizing force than to hear together the gospel of Jesus from the perspective of the questions, problems, sufferings and hopes of our daily lives.'' Over the weekend, I had the joyful opportunity to share with communities from Zimbabwe, South America and Myanmar as they reflected and celebrated the word in prayer, music and a shared meal. Jesus did not say you are a branch united to me, but you are branches. When we are united in small communities, his abundant life flows more strongly through us all.