I am not a gardener, so I went to Google and searched “Why is it important to prune branches of a vine?” I learned a lot from the articles I read and that particularly for grape vines, the vine grower prunes the branches of the vine that have reproduced fruit already because grapes produce fruit on a branch only once. The branch of the new year's growth grew from the branches of last year's harvest. So, when a branch bears fruit one year, the vine grower must trim that branch, being aware that buds left on that branch are where the new shoots will grow for the following year.
Every year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church invites us to reflect on the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel and the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Jesus underscores the fact that the sheep of His flock recognize and respond to His voice. The Good Shepherd calls His sheep to Himself and loves and protects them. We may not realize it, but we are called to imitate Jesus in His role as Good Shepherd.
Have you noticed how we human beings get caught up in all the events we think are so important? But are these things really that important? Did our lives change dramatically because we experienced a solar eclipse or felt the aftershock of the earthquake? Probably not, although the doomsday peddlers among us wanted everyone to rush to gas stations and grocery stores in anticipation of the end times.
As a Church we put much emphasis on our need for penance and conversion but we also need to emphasize our need to celebrate and share the good news that Christ is Risen from the dead. On that first Easter Sunday over 2000 years ago, the tomb of Jesus was empty, he had conquered death, defeated Satan, and rose from the dead. I think that is pretty awesome!
“He (the young man) said to them, ‘Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; He is not here. But go and tell…” (Mark 16)
In these few short sentences, Mark the Evangelist captures the essence of the Christian vocation. Do not be amazed: Why? Because from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus promised that He would be crucified and raised on the third day. He is not here: Look, see and believe everything He told you about Himself, His Father, and His salvific mission. But go and tell: Share the faith that we have received. Share a faith that is filled with conviction and joy.
Happy Holy Week! Our Lenten journey truly is just the Beginning as we enter into the holiest of weeks in the liturgical calendar with today Palm Sunday and to come Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and the entire Easter season.
We hear in the Gospel before the blessing of the palms,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
Hosanna in the highest!”
