Today we have the magnificent image of Jesus as the Vine, and the faithful, as the branches on that vine - branches which draw their life entirely from him. The type of life I am talking about here is SPIRITUAL LIFE! Life in the Church, really, has absolutely nothing to do with our earthly, biological lives – directly – but rather it has to do with our lives as re-born persons in the very life of God himself: SPIRITUAL LIFE! And it is this spiritual rebirth, this spiritual life that is the most important aspect of our lives: all of us: those who know about it and believe it to be so; and even those who have considered it and rejected it, or those who could simply care less. And we each, will be accountable for, and responsible for how well we lived these spiritual lives of ours – over and above our biological and physical lives.
This is why the image of the vine and the branches is so wonderful: God himself, through this method, has provided a way for our spiritual lives to be "brought up to a code" that will make us eligible for eternal life: we must be "reborn SPIRITUALLY" as Jesus tells Nicodemus, in order to become united with him, the vine; to share his spiritual life, the life of the vine; to share the benefits of spiritual life on the vine: most importantly of which is adoptive spiritual sonship with God the Father. This is enormously important: the only way to live the family life of God in heaven in the future is to become a member of the family now; and since Jesus is the only one true family member: the Only-Begotten Son of the Father: our membership can only be in him, in a true and real adoptive sort of way, by the grace of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Adoption into God's life, and the life of the branches on the vine are exactly the same thing!
It is up to us to safeguard our life, then, as a branch on the vine, as an adopted son (and daughter) of the Father – by using all of the tools that Jesus gave us: the sacraments, especially Eucharist; prayer; and works of charity and mercy and self-sacrificial giving. The Holy Spirit will be with us (as promised) – and he will do his job of making us aware of God's Presence in us – so long as we have an open mind and heart!
The first reading today: is about Paul and Barnabas facing their first major difficulty in bringing the good news of LIBERATING SPIRITUAL LIFE IN GOD to the Gentile people. Paul and Barnabas were instructing the Gentiles with one story; but "visiting Jews" had also come down and were teaching a different version of the story: they were telling the Gentiles that they first had to become Jews – if only briefly, in order to become Christian (circumcision)– because salvation first comes to and from the Jews: Jesus' own people! This was a very good point: a technical question.
Rather than argue the point then and there, Paul and Barnabas decided to take the matter to Peter and the other Apostles and presbyters (priests) in Jerusalem – the headquarters of the Church at the time. When they arrived they presented the issue: and some of the Pharisees (the learned religious leaders of the Jews) said that, yes, it is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles (to make them Jews first) and to require them to observe the Mosaic Law from then on, as well as any other "Christian" rules. But the Apostles and presbyters decided to meet separately and behind closed doors about these matters! And thus, the first council of the Church was opened for its first session! The Council of Jerusalem was engaged: and the direct influence of the Holy Spirit in resolving the matter was sought after through prayer and discussion: a vote was taken and the results were promulgated as the very first "disciplinary ruling" of the new Christian Church! But we will have to wait until tomorrow's readings to find out what happened! Stay tuned!
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
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