I AM THE VINE

V EASTER SUNDAY - John 15:1-8

I am in Fatima at the invitation of the former students of the seminary of Lamego. I had no time to write my reflection on the Sunday readings.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine,

and my Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in me that bears no fruit

he cuts away,

and every branch that does bear fruit

he prunes to make it bear even more.

You are pruned already,

by means of the word that I have spoken to you.

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.

As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,

but must remain part of the vine,

neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine,

you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me, with me in him,

bears fruit in plenty;

for cut off from me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;

these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,

and they are burnt.

If you remain in me

and my words remain in you,

you may ask what you will

and you shall get it.

It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,

and then you will be my disciples.’

We are invited to look at our relationship with Jesus. Without him, we cannot produce fruits of holiness. We will dry out like branches cut off from the trunk of the tree. It is from him that we receive grace upon grace. In him, we are reconciled with the Father and become his beloved children.

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

IV EASTER SUNDAY - John 10:11-18

I came to Luanda, Angola, invited to be present at the ordination to the priesthood of the deacon Constantino Mario Chingalule who finished his formation in the Seminary of the Good News Missionary Society, in Valadares, Portugal. Taking place on the Saturday before the Good Shepherd Sunday, his ordination could not happen on a better occasion. As a priest, Fr. Constantino is called to share in Jesus’ ministry as a shepherd. Jesus presented himself as the good shepherd. Being a good shepherd means putting one’s life at the service of the flock, that is the community. Indeed, “the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.”

The shepherd has the duty not only to accompany the flock but to look after them as well. He must care for the well-being of the sheep, leading them to good pastures and clean drinking places. There are moments when he must be in front and the sheep will follow him and moments when he stays at the back, making sure that none of the sheep lags or goes astray. The good shepherd must be ready to protect and defend the flock, even if that endangers his life. As a good shepherd, he knows each one of the sheep and they put their trust in him, recognising that he loves them and does everything possible for them to have life and find salvation.

As we look to the Church at the end of the first quarter of the XXI century, we realise that we are in dear need of good shepherds in the Church who minister to the Church with a deep commitment, offering their lives at the service of the Kingdom of God in faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Some preach themselves instead of the Gospel, proposing new theories or accepting the prevailing ones in the world around them. The seduction of the current ideologies is stronger than the commitment to the Church. We may easily forget that we must be servants of the word of God. A good shepherd must be a true prophet who facilitates the communication of God’s word.

Whenever there is an ordination, we must rejoice and give thanks to God because there are so few that there are not enough priests to replace the ones that depart from this world. Very few young people are ready to hear the call and commit their lives to the service of the Gospel. We must pray to the Lord and entreat him to bring labourers to his vineyard: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38)

YOU ARE WITNESSES TO THIS.

III EASTER SUNDAY - Luke 24:35-48

In his speech, Peter accused the people of Israel. They should know better since they are Israelites. They should know what the God of their ancestors - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - spoke through the prophets “that his Christ would suffer”. He “carried out what he had foretold”. But they behaved as ignorant. They “killed the prince of life”, handing him over to Pilate, while demanding the release of a murderer. “God, however, raised him from the dead and glorified the same Jesus they had handed over to the Roman governor. Now, they must recognise their sin, “repent and turn to God” for their sins to be wiped out.

In a few words, Peter presents us with the nucleus of the Christian Gospel. Jesus is the Christ, who was rejected by his people and accepted suffering and death, offering his life in sacrifice. Then, God glorified and exalted him and in his name is preached the forgiveness of sins.

Peter presented himself and all his companions as witnesses of Christ, because they lived with him, learning with his teachings and seeing his miracles. They witnessed as well his passion and death. Finally, they experienced the presence of the Risen Christ: they encountered him, talking with him, touching him and eating with him. This Sunday’s gospel speaks of that. We know that the disciples were puzzled when they discovered the empty tomb. Who could have taken Jesus’ body? The rumour was spread that the disciples had stolen his body. It was a false rumour spread to discredit the resurrection. The angels announced the resurrection to the women, but the apostles could not believe it. When Jesus appeared, their hearts sunk in fear, thinking that they were before a ghost. Jesus had to reassure them: “Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And Jesus shared with them a meal. We may remember that the two disciples going to Emmaus recognised Jesus during the breaking of the bread, as Jesus sat at the table and shared a meal with them. This Sunday’s gospel presents two essential elements to make the experience of the risen Christ: the Scriptures and the meal (the Eucharist). “He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures”. The Word of God makes possible the understanding of the mystery of salvation and the mystery of Jesus Christ, that is of his passion, death and resurrection. The Scriptures lead us to faith in Jesus Christ. However, the Scriptures alone are not enough for us to recognise the living Christ. We need to sit with him at the table and share the food that he prepared for us. It is in the Eucharistic celebration that Christ opens our minds and hearts to accept him and to live for him. Then, we are called to become Jesus’ witnesses. In his name, we must proclaim that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations”. Jesus’ name is the only name in which we can be reconciled with God and find life and salvation.

MY LORD AND MY GOD

II SUNDAY OF EASTER - Divine Mercy Sunday - John 20:19-31

In the gospel, we are presented with the Apostles gathered together on the first day of the week. we are made to guess that the first day of the week - that is Sunday, the day of the Lord - is the day of the Christian assembly. This first day signifies a new beginning or a new era, that is the era of salvation, in which humanity is created anew in Jesus Christ. The first day of the week is the day of the New Covenant, sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ. On this first day, the disciples of Jesus are called to gather together as the new people of God. However, “the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.” The disciples were not ready yet to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. They met together but in hiding, afraid of being rejected, caught and punished. It was in such a situation that they experienced the presence of Jesus, who came to bring peace to their hearts, breathing on them the Holy Spirit, who was to guide and strengthen them to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ. Jesus entrusted them with the mission he had received from the Father. They must proclaim the Kingdom of God and call people to repentance and conversion. They are endowed with the Holy Spirit to be able to exercise the ministry of reconciliation. It is through the Holy Spirit that they receive the power to forgive sins, making it possible to establish a new community, the community of the disciples gathered together in the name of the risen Christ. Such a community is to be guided by the commandment of love, where selfishness is overcome, giving place to sharing and communion. This new community is built upon the belief that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. Only those with such a belief have overcome the world, that is the power of evil that enslaves us, creating enmity and bringing chaos.

The faith in the risen Christ is the foundation upon which the new community - the Church - is built. Thomas - the one who could not believe it - had to come to his senses, making the encounter with the risen Lord, to become a full member of the community. In the end, his profession of faith expresses the belief of all of us: My Lord and my God.

As we gather together during this Sunday - that is, this first day of the week - let us proclaim aloud our faith, preparing our hearts to receive the Spirit that makes reconciliation possible.