+ As Jesus is busy now preparing his apostles and disciples for his departure from them, his ascension into heaven - today we see him trying to get the idea across that it will be really possible for he and them to be very closely united, in fact, more than intimately united: our entire lives, including our spiritual lives would be conjoined to his in a real union of essence: we would be like branches to him as vine. This, of course, would imply that, for the baptized person – the one grafted onto and conjoined to him – right and true spiritual life resources would flow from Jesus the Vine and him alone. And good works will abound, just as good fruit emanates from a healthy vine. The health of this vine depends on the voluntary and willful cooperation in doing "the works of the Father," the works of the Son, empowered by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
We have our choice today to be healthy, green, growing and blossoming branches on that Vine of Christ, or withered, rotten, dead ones – good for nothing but to be cut off and burned forever – which will happen one day when the Vine himself comes to judge the branches. It's the little decisions that we make for good, for life, for love that keep us connected to Christ in a healthy and productive way!
Remain in me, as I remain in you, pleads the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit: both in the here and the hereafter!
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