This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, May 2nd is from John 15:1-8.
“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 every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. . .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. . .By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.’”
“The image of the vine is a wonderful one. A vine does not grow straight up like a tree or most other plants. Its flexible stem hunts for any hold, spiraling around posts, climbing up fences, wrapping around other plants. In doing so it connects everything in its surroundings. As does Jesus. Jesus, the true vine, reaches out to all, and all of us are connected, not just to the vine, Jesus, but to everyone else.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Summer 2021
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…” Colossians 3:16
Monday 1 Cor 15:1-8; John 14:6-14
Saints Philip and James, Apostles (Feast) – Philip and James were apostles of Jesus. The choice of Philip as a disciple is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John’s gospel records several conversations between Jesus and Philip. James, the son of Alphaeus, is called “James the Less” (to differentiate from the other St. James, son of Zebedee). He is mentioned in Mark and in Acts.
Tuesday Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a
Wednesday Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8
Thursday Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11
Friday Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12-17
Saturday Acts 16:1-10; John 15:18-21
SOURCE: Living With Christ, May 2021