THE FAMILY TREE

Reflection for Wednesday of the 5^th Week of East  

Memorial of our Lady of Fatima

(Acts 15:1-6; Jn 15:1-8)

Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Today Jesus used the imagery of a tree and its branches to describe our relationship with Him. We are not left hanging, at the mercy of any wind that blows. No, we have a foundation, structure and way of sustenance in Jesus. The branches are meant to bear fruit and showcase the beauty of the tree. The tree trunk supplies the stamina and nutrients to the branches. A branch can be separated from the tree in two ways; if it cut itself off or if the Father cuts it off on grounds of unproductively. “Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Our life will be useless, pain and empty living, and at last it will dry off, if we do not draw nourishment from Jesus.

The Son of God became the Son of man so that the sons of men can become children of God. So by faith we are replanted into the family lineage of Jesus Christ. “He gave power to become children of God, to those who believed in His name, who were born not from human stock or human desire or human will but from God Himself” (Jn 1:12-13). The rebirth we have in Christ Jesus gives us new identity and produces new fruits for the Kingdom of God (Jn 3:5-6). We have a new family ancestry, of which Jesus is the Head of the lineage! We no longer think or act from the old lineage of human birth, rather we model ourselves according to the new blood bond we share in Jesus Christ. If we remain hanging on the family tree of Jesus, the old human stock, with its burden of sin and brokenness, shall not affect us (Eze 18:2-4). So do not let any fake pastor deceive you that they are going to cleanse your family tree, unless you have cut yourself off from Jesus the Vine.  

“He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” And Jesus Himself hung on the tree of the Cross as the first fruit—“the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20). Thus, “The earth has yielded its fruit” (Ps 67:6). The fruits we produce today testify on which tree our life is hanging! “By their fruits we shall know them. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?” (Mt 7:15-20). If our lives abide firmly on the family tree of Jesus, we shall produce fruits of forgiveness, love, peace, self-control, piety, humility, etc.

Today, we learn from the example of disciples as they gather around the 12 Apostles and elders to deliberate and ensure that their teaching was firmly rooted in Christ Jesus, and not on some human exuberance. Also we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, who surrendered her life totally to the will of God, and became the Mother of the Saviour. Her apparition in Fatima brought peace to the world and deepened faith in God. 

Abide in Jesus; let Him be the stronghold of your life. Your prayers will be answered, and God will be glorified in you. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday May 13^th, 2020.

Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima.