In this weekend’s gospel John 15: 1-8, we hear “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” Jesus, our vine, is the source of supernatural life in us as we are branches of the vine. In Eucharist when we eat the body of Christ and drink the blood of Christ, we remember that we remain one with the vine, who gives us life, love, and mercy. In this weekend’s communion song “Vine and Branches”, verse four, we sing: “All those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me and I remain in them.” In the second communion song “One Love Released”, we sing: “Is not this bread we share, the body of our Lord? Is not the wine we drink, the blood of Christ outpoured?” Thank you, Jesus!
Reflection written by Linda Koons, organist, choir member and accompanist for Parish Youth choir