Scripture Reflections for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

“And that’s the beauty of Paul’s story, of his witness, that no matter how much we mess up, no matter how much we sin, we can be forgiven. We can be saved.”

"In the Acts of the Apostles the suspicion of the early Christians in Jerusalem towards Saul is treated as perfectly understandable. After all, here we have someone who persecuted the..."

"I would like to focus my attention this week on the magnificent first reading, taken from the pivotal ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. I say pivotal because..."

"Those of us who have studied the New Testament have usually spent hours staring at the Greek text of the first letter of St John since, as it is short..."

“Jesus does not say that God is the vineyard owner. He says that God is the vinedresser. The humble worker that goes out each day into the fields to care for the vines.”

“The Greek word that is translating by ‘pruning’ also means to clean or purify. Jesus’s word cleans us and gives us purity of heart.”

"I am the true vine, says Jesus, here in John’s gospel, as he is addressing the disciples during the last supper. In the last few days the gospel passages seem..."

"We Christians like to use images to capture the relationship Christ has with us. Sometimes, for example, we speak of Christ as the head of the body which is the..."

“What is it in me—my actions, my habits, my attitudes—that does not produce fruit; that is dry, withered, lifeless; that is separated from God? Second and more tricky, what is it in me that that, while virtuous and perhaps Christ-sprung, uses energy and life that would otherwise be concentrated on perhaps more important and fruitful endeavors?”

"Most of what we read or hear in today's Gospel presents us with very little difficulty, but there is one particular phrase that can sometimes cause puzzlement to people, however..."

"Images taken from the world with which we are familiar can have a powerful influence in shaping our understanding of how we relate to God and how this should affect..."

“If Jesus is the true vine and we’re the branches, we’re not just joined but we’re made of the same stuff”

"Friends, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus proclaims that he is the vine and we are the branches. There is give and take in this divine relationship. Not only are..."

"“I am the Vine, and you are the branches.” Jesus is not simply an inspiring teacher to whom we listen. He is a force in which we participate, a body..."

"Jesus Christ is infintely more than a moral ideal, a saint whom we admire from afar. In accord with the image from the Gospel for today, he is the vine..."

"Another homily from Fr. Robert Barron and Word on Fire Catholic Ministries."

“The problem isn’t the differences, but rather how we handle the differences. How do we treat those who think or act differently? Who even seem to be the enemy? Do we look at information through the eyes of the Gospel and Church teaching—then discuss issues along those lines, letting the Holy Spirit guide us?”

“Every faith must be born in a community and must be accredited in a community through a witness. Paul might have received a new life but it would have had no meaning without its expression in and with the community of brethren.”

“Assurance of salvation does not come from introspection and soul-searching, although examination of conscience is an important part of the Christian life. Rather, when we put our faith into action by performing deeds of love, then we know we are actually living in Christ and he in us.”

“Do you fail to see the Spirit around you and in everything you do? Do you fail to see God in your work and in those you work with, and live with, and worship with, and socialize with?”

“The very life of Christ within us gives us direction in facing challenges of life. Our connection to Christ is deep enough to give us the freedom to live.”

“Remaining in Jesus’ love, remaining attached to the vine is what allows life to flow through us”