Remain in Jesus

 

  Jn 15:1-8

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Today we celebrate the Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to give an authentically Christian understanding of work  and underscore its dignity and as a means of giving glory to God and of growing our own sanctification. If we see ourselves as branches on the vine, united to Jesus, then even our work can be part of our daily offering to him, thus giving work an important place in our  spiritual growth. Our work can thus be a prayer and not a drudge. May the example of St. Joseph help us appreciate our place on the vine and help us grow closer to Jesus.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you for the gift of work and for the example of St. Joseph the Worker who silently and faithfully worked his trade. Amen.