THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

Meditation for 5^th Sunday of Easter

(Acts 9:26-31; 1Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8)

We are greeted today by one of the enriching and inspiring gospel passages. Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the true 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.” The vine is an economic tree that produces wine. The branches of the tree produce the seeds that are crushed to squeeze out sweet wine. The branches give shape and beauty to the tree, from which they receive nutrient and support. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

We see how important we are to Jesus; and we see how necessary and sufficient He is to each of us. As the branch receives life from the tree, it is expected to produce fruits that will showcase the greatness and value of the tree. That is why the 2^nd reading says LOVE is the fruit we bear as branches of Jesus the Vine! “We should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us.” By faith we abide in Him and receive the support and nourishment to bear the fruit of love. Love for one another is the sweet wine; it is that BEAUTY that the branch adds to the tree of life. This love that ‘tastes’ and announces Jesus can only come from those who abide in Him, who are firmly rooted in Him as the trunk of their existence.

It is through faith that we grafted into Christ Jesus as His branch. We see in the first reading how this takes a practical approach in the life of the Church. As we are welcomed into the life of the Church, the Body of Christ through Baptism, the faith of the Church that binds us together equally binds us with Christ Jesus. After his conversion, when Paul first came to Jerusalem, the disciples were reluctant to welcome him into their fold. Barnabas intervened and introduced him as a believer and they welcomed him. The Church continued to grow, “Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it multiplied.” Each of us has been given different gift and talents as branches of the Vine. When we apply these 'resources' to good use, bearing fruits of righteousness, we grow and strengthen the body of Christ. This, too, is how we share love and attract others to abide firmly on Jesus, the True Vine.

Therefore, the True Vine will always have branches for the Church is always alive as the Body of Christ. But, how can one be a true branch of the True Vine without sharing communion of faith with other branches of the same Vine? Most importantly, we abide in Christ Jesus when His words abide in us, we live by it and with it. In doing so, we win souls for Christ, and introduce others to the body of Christ as branches grafted in Him, just as Barnabas did. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday May 2^nd, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

REFILLING THE EMPTY JARS OF AFRICA

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA
(Acts 1:12-14; Jn 2:1-11)

We entrust the Continent of Africa into the maternal help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The perception and the reality of life in Africa is quite unique. The ‘otherness’ of Africa evokes from people of other continents mostly pity or scorn. The replacement of natural boundaries with western political boundaries is still at the root of political instability and cultural clashes in most African states. However, Africa is the land of natural resources with economic potentials that promises a bright future.

The first reading tells us how Mary was present with the Apostles in the Upper Room as they awaited the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel we hear about the presence of Mary and Jesus at the wedding in Cana. When the celebrants ran out wine, Mary intervened. She brought up the matter to Jesus, the source of every blessing. Then, she turned to those who were in a position to take action, i.e. the servants, and prepared their hearts for Jesus by directing them to obey whatever Jesus tells them to do, “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary is qualified to bring us divine blessings, and helps us to be open and available to take the proper actions that would bring those blessings to reality.

Oh Mary, Mother of the Saviour, we employ you this day to intercede for the peoples of Africa. Be in our midst as our mother, and pray with us as you did with the apostles in the upper room. Mary, please direct us and turn our hearts to Jesus as you did to the servants at the wedding in Cana in Galilee. With your motherly presence in the affairs of Africa, Jesus will bless us, and the ‘empty jars’ of Africa will be filled with sweet wine of economic growth, peaceful co-existence, fear and knowledge of God, etc. Teach the servants of Africa, our leaders, who serve at the ‘high table’ of affairs in African countries, to obey Jesus and follow His footsteps of Jesus Christ in leading by example and with sacrifice. Amen.

The best wine is yet to be served in Africa; our hope is still alive. We shall rejoice and dance that the Lord our God has blessed us in our land.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday April 30^th, 2021.
Feast of our Lady of Africa
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

SHARING IN THE LIFE OF THE TRINITY

Meditation for Wednesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 12:24-13:5; Jn 12:44-50)

Think about how our faith in Jesus Christ launches us into the mystery of God; the divine mysteries are made known to us in Jesus Christ. The perfect unity of the Three Persons in one God makes it possible for believers to share an intimate union with Jesus. The Trinity is the beginning and end of Christian contemplation. Jesus spoke clearly about His oneness with the Father. When the Son of God took flesh and dwelt among us, He makes it possible and easier for us to relate to God with our human heart, and befriend Him in a more personal and intimate way. Thus, to believe in Jesus means to respond to Him with one’s whole life; it means to give one’s life to Jesus. In effect, the believer tries to life his life like that of Jesus, to apply in one’s life the principles and models of Jesus Christ for salvation. To believe in Jesus in this way makes one to share in the life of the Trinity.

Jesus said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me see him who sent me.” Jesus is the light through which we see God and His glory in our lives. And it is through listening to His words and applying them in our lives that we bring into effect power of this Trinitarian life we have in Jesus. This is the only way we avoid condemnation.

However, despite our good will and intentions, we do not have the natural power to translate the divine words we have heard and receive into human action effectively. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The first reading of today gives example of how the Holy Spirit moved Barnabas and Saul to practical action as missionaries. “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” Being disposed and attentive to the Holy Spirit is what it means to live a spiritual life. The Holy Spirit connects our human actions with the divine life we share in the Trinity through Jesus Christ. In this way, He directs our lives in the path of eternal salvation, even as we are nourished with the blessings we need today, radiating joy, peace, love and unity. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday April 28^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“I know them, and they follow me”

Meditation for Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 11:19-26; Jn 10:22-30)

The Jews gathered around Jesus, and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” But if he says it, they would still say, ‘show us a sign.’ In fact, they were more interested in signs that words. They saw the signs, which spoke louder than words, they started asking for words! Jesus told them that their unstable demands simply means they do not belong to Him. “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.”

Unlike the Jews that kept looking for excuses not to believe, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” Imagine the depth of familiarity between Jesus and the sheep that belongs to Him! A familiarity that flows from Jesus' oneness with the  Father, "I and the Father are one." It is not Jesus who follows the sheep, no! It is the sheep that follows Jesus; He leads and they follow. That is the only way they can be safe and earn eternal life.

That was how He led the early Church. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the good news had already reached Antioch before the Apostles sent Barnabas. On reaching the city, he saw the grace of God at work, and he exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord. Later Barnabas brought Paul to join him and they stayed in Antioch for a year. “And in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” This is how Jesus leads His faithful to growth, progress and eternal life even in the face of persecution. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday April 27^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

KNOWING THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Meditation for 4^th Sunday of Week of Easter, Year B

(Acts 4:8-12; Jn 10:11-18)

Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." The Characteristics of the good shepherd is unique and separates him from the hired man, who runs away when he sees wolf coming. While the good shepherd offers his life to save the life of his sheep, the hireling saves his life at the expense of the sheep. 

Now, meditate on a sheep, grazing freely in the field but there are wolves around, looking for opportunity to devour the sheep. The sheep looks back, sees the good shepherd behind it and knowing what he can do, continues to graze freely on the grass, not minding the wicked eyes of the wolves! Think about such KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD that gives the sheep confidence to carry on. That is the kind of knowledge Jesus shares with His sheep, and shares with the Father. "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

This knowledge of Jesus that gives CONFIDENCE to the believer is unknown to the world. So the life of an uthentic believer is elusive to the world. That is why worldly life blindfolds the believer from seeing the hand of God at work in his life; he sees only wolves in the field of life,  fear and uncertain define his every move. The second reading says, "The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." But we are God's children; He knows us and watches over us.

Therefore, we shall remain firm in this knowledge of Jesus the Good Shepherd that sets us free. Like Peter in the First reading, we stand against every opposition to witness to this surpassing knowledge of Christ, which manifests its power in our lives. Peter told elders that the Jesus the rejected has become the Cornerstone. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Andrew's Catholic Church,

Illemba, Lagos. 

Sunday April 25^th, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?”

 “TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?”

Meditation for Saturday of the 3^rd Week of Easter
(Acts 9:31-42; Jn 6:60-69)

Though faith is a gift, there is an aspect of it that is human choice. God reveals His mysteries and offers us the gift of faith for our salvation. We freely choose to believe, and in believing we surrender ourselves to the authority of faith.

But many of Jews could not accept the teachings of Jesus on the Bread of Life. They said, “This is a hard saying, who can believe it.” Still, Jesus did not bend the teaching but maintained His stand that He is the Bread of Life, which came down from Heaven. Knowing that they were looking at it from literal human point of view, He said to them, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. That is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

In the midst of the unbelief of the Jews and some disciples, Simon Peter reassured Jesus of the faith of the apostles, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Here we see the ‘choice of faith’, the human ascent to the truth of faith. This choice to believe is drawn out and inspired by the Holy Spirit. In choosing to believe, one surrenders to the authority of faith, which is Jesus Christ. In other words, the choice to believe is at the same time an acknowledgement of the authority of faith. Therefore, Peter’s profession of faith recognized and acknowledged Jesus as the rightful authority that offers the truth of faith. Hence, the choice to believe is a choice for Jesus Christ! He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).

This choice for Jesus by choosing what faith proposes, is so powerful that it makes the believer carry in himself the life Christ and perform great works in His name. Think about how the lady Tabitha touched the lives of many people at Joppa through her humble and simple works. See how Peter healed the paralysed man, Aeneas at Lydda. On hearing about the death of Tabitha, Peter moved in, knelt down and prayed, and said to the body, “Tabitha rise.” She got up! The power of Jesus is always at works in those who believe in Him; those who chose Him and surrendered their authority to Him. To whom shall we go? Only Jesus we choose, only Jesus we shall follow, only Jesus we shall surrender to, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Saturday April 24^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

ABIDE WITH ME

Meditation for Friday of the 3^rd Week of Easter

(Acts 9:1-20; Jn 6:52-59)

The human mind questions information it receives before properly assimilating it. Such questioning can be part of the process of knowing or an expression of rebuff or rejection. Sometimes those who claim to be ‘intellectual’ do not always get all the answers to the questions they impose on faith. However, the rational mind is a necessary solid foundation to implant faith in the believer; faith itself goes beyond reason, elevates and dignifies it, saves it from the self-agony of endless and restless regress. So, reason finds ‘joy’ in faith; faith stands secure in reason. That is why a scientific question was thrown at Jesus in the Gospel of today.

After listening to His teachings on the ‘Bread of Life’, the Jews could not find it reasonable, so they asked, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” The question, ‘how’ seeks a scientific explanation. But this can only be possible if the source or origin is human or nature. But since the ‘Bread of Life’ is God’s initiative and comes down from God as Gift, man is only positioned to RECEIVE it. Hence, Jesus did not answer the scientific question, but traces the consequences of this Gift in the live of those who receive it in faith.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Anticipating the Eucharist that would become His Body and Blood, Jesus said, “For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed.” Those who consume Jesus in this way will have their lives mingled together with Him, such that the life of Jesus will be evident in their lives. “So he who eats me will live because of me.”

Imagine such great assurance that through the Eucharist we can bear in our mortal bodies the imprint of the life of Christ. Think about what it means for us, in the midst of the hardships of this life,  that Jesus abides with us. Think about Jesus as living in those early Christians martyred by Saul, even as he travels down to Damascus for more persecution! Even today, we still have Jesus abiding in the lives of victims of domestic violence, rape, robbery, terrorism, bad government policies, injustice, abuse, etc. He does not leave us even when friends depart. Instead, Jesus calls out the Persecutor, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now, meditate deeply on how Jesus abides in us to make our wounds His very own. You will see why those who eat His flesh and drink His blood receive healing, and are constantly renewed, even in the face of their persecutors! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday April 23^rd, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com