Dear Friends,
As we continue contemplate on the mystery of the Resurrection during Eastertide, we are given Scripture passages for reflection that center on the appearances of the Risen Lord – on how they affected His disciples and their resulting transformations. Through them, we are invited to fathom the depth of Jesus’ love for us and ours for Him.
On this 5th Sunday of Easter, the remarkable 15th chapter of the Gospel of John grabs our attention. Jesus speaks of His desire for us to be inseparably united with Him. Through the parable of the Vine and its Branches, Jesus uses experiences we all have had in our gardens. We know how trimming, pruning, and fertilizing our plants and trees are crucial to how well they bear fruit. Just as we work so hard to ensure the health of the plants and trees in our garden, so also Jesus pleads with us to do what is essential to keep the sap of our relationship with Him healthy and flowing. He says: “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.”
How do we know if we have a healthy relationship with Jesus? One litmus test is to look at how well His words are fulfilled in our lives: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
Evaluating how well we keep His commandments is another way to test whether we truly remain in Jesus. As John says in his first letter(3: 18-24):
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.
The readings today invite us to keep Jesus’ commandments. This will ensure that we remain in Him. The more we spend time cultivating our relationship with Jesus, the more we will bear fruit.
I now draw your attention to two significant spiritual enrichment opportunities taking place in May. I urge you to mark them in your calendar, so that you can attend these events that are designed to help us know in depth the love we have for our Lord.
The first will be presented by Dr. Mary Soha. On Monday, 6 May and Tuesday, 7 May, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Dr. Soha will speak on two themes especially pertinent for us who live in Florida. On Monday, 6 May, her talk is on the History of the Devotion to Our Lady of La Leche and Her Confraternity. Dr. Soha lives next door to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine and is an expert on the devotion people have to our Lady. On Tuesday, 7 May, she will give a presentation entitled In Defense of the Eucharist – The Story of the Martyrs of La Florida. Dr. Soha is the Vice-Postulator for the Canonization of the Martyrs of La Florida, and as such she is well versed in the who these martyrs were, what they did, and what is involved in the canonization process.
On 17-18 May, we are offering a 2-Day Weekend Conference on our identity as a son or daughter of God. This Conference is led by two great speakers: Sarah Kaczmarek and Kevin Bailey, who will offer talks on the themes of Identity and Transformation; Intimacy and Hearing God’s Voice; Living the Supernatural Life; and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Please see the bulletin and our website about how to obtain more information and to register. You must obtain a ticket for this event. I urge you to take advantage of this great opportunity to grow in your identity as sons and daughters of God. Please rush to do so!
Have a Blessed Week!
With love,
Fr. John