Wednesday in the Fifth Week of Easter
Acts 15:1-6; Jn 15:1-8
We are obsessed with being productive. And this is hardly surprising because it is society which has taught us to be so. We seem to get our worth from how much we produce, the quality that we produce, how much we contribute to economic growth.
Don’t get me wrong. It is obviously very important to be productive, and to work hard and efficiently. You would recall how St Paul says to the Thessalonians, "Who does not work has no right to eat." They were lazing around and saying, If Christ is soon coming, why work at all? At the Seminary they used to tell us, when it is time to pray pray but when it is time to work, work - do not get these times mixed up!
Well, today Jesus is telling us that although being productive is important, what is even more important is to be fruitful. In fact, if what you do does not produce fruit, it is useless. And we produce fruit only if we remain in Christ and Christ remains in us.
Even if we cannot work for some reason or other, such as if we are sick in bed, or perhaps retired, or for some serious reason not gainfully employed: sometimes we might feel useless, or we might be a bit concerned about what others think of us, or even that we are a burden on others. But Jesus today is telling us, a loud and clear, "No!" What really makes a difference in society is remaining in Christ and having Christ remain in you. This is possible even if we are unable to be as productive as we wich to be.
Actually perhaps the very suffering of not being able to be productive, of not being able to be efficient, not not being able to see the results and successes of our own efforts because I studied but failed in my exams, or because I was not chosen for the umpteenth interview I had this month, or because I am facing challenges at work, or because I am sick at home and cannot work for some reason or other - this very suffering might be an opportunity of communion with Christ. It is like that sap which flows throughout the tree into all the roots and branches and leaves, it is the sap of suffering which unites me with Christ.
If we pay enough attention to the text we realise that Jesus not only expects of us to be united with him, but he also pledges to be united with us. It is this unity with him that makes us holy and that makes us produce fruit, and fruit in abundance.
May we always to attached to Christ. May we work hard and be productive, but even more importantly, may we remain in Christ and Christ in us so that we may produce fruit for ourselves but also for others to enjoy and in doing so, praise God for his faithfulness.
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