Stayng United To The Vine

Note:  My stay in the hospital ran from May 4th till May 12th...few days longer than planned due to common complications and the professional care of the staff a Brigham And Women's in Boston. I have a deeper understanding of and  appreciation for the words, "patience", "wait" and "slowly". My brain was in limbo for many of the hospital days, but I hope it is now functioning well enough to produce a good, solid slice of daily bread.

We hear Jesus talking about the Vine and the Branches, (Jn 15:1-8) and an occasional pruning so that the vine might produce more fruit.  Pruning is painful, no doubt to the vine and to us when we are forced to part with a familiar routine or habit so that we might improve in other areas of our lives. The Corona Virus lock down and curtailment of social connections have made this very clear. We have lost somethings only, we hope, to gain others.
We can use this pruning opportunity to become more closely connected to the Vine, Jesus or we can squabble this golden opportunity in negative complaining or self-pity. But we have an ally who can help with the pruning and uniting.  Mary... Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima who, on this day in 1917 appeared to the three children and gave them a simple message to pass on to us:  reform our lives, pray the
Rosary daily, and pray for the forgiveness of us poor sinners. These simple tools will ameliorate the pruning process and unite is more strongly with Jesus...After all, Mary's role is to bring Jesus to us, and us to him.
Bro. Rene