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Gospel Reading for May 1, 2024 – John 15: 1-8
REFLECTION
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. 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. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 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.”
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“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.”
There are those of us who get frustrated because we do not get what we pray for, or what we want. Perhaps, if we remain in Jesus, and his words remain in us, we will know what to pray for. Perhaps, we will be praying for “higher” things – those that have no material value yet are very essential to living a happy, peaceful, and beautiful life.
What do we usually pray for? Do we pray more for others than ourselves? Do we pray for things that will make us better persons or for things that will make us famous and wealthy? Do we pray for victims of injustices and wars even if we do not know them? Do we pray only for those we love and not those who persecute us? WHAT WE PRAY FOR IS A REFLECTION OF OURSELVES.
Let us ponder on some lines from the song, THE PRAYER written by Carole Bayer Sager, Alberto Testa, David W. Foster and Tony Renis –
I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
I pray we’ll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe!
