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Gospel Reading for May 06, 2026 – John 15: 1-8
BEGIN TO BECOME
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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We cannot bear fruit on our own. If we do not remain attached to Jesus, the true vine, we wither and are eventually cut off.
When we are not rooted in him, we begin to produce fruit on our own terms. This is why some resort to corruption, scams, and other dishonest means to gain wealth. It is why others chase fame through propaganda, fabricated success, or by tearing others down—especially in the world of social media. It is also why some pursue power only to misuse it, oppressing the poor and the helpless. These are not true fruits—they are fruits of evil.
But when we remain in Jesus, our lives can bear only good fruit. As he teaches, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Matthew 7: 18; Luke 6: 43).
When we are truly connected to him, we BEGIN TO BECOME like him—humble and gentle, loving and forgiving, persevering and faithful, honest and upright.
As Saint Paul reminds us in Galatians 5: 22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Lord Jesus, help us to always remain in you
