Whoever keeps his
commandments
lives in God and God lives
in him.
We know
that he lives in us
by the Spirit that he has
given us.
1 John 3:24
The Gospel writers – and Jesus
himself – used the images that lay outside their doors. We know the first
disciples were simple Galileans (Acts 2:7), fishermen mostly. Their mothers and
wives ground grain for bread, perhaps kept vines for house wine and vinegar,
sought out fresh herbs from local markets, perhaps kept a fig tree, shaded
themselves from the heat under giant mustard trees, walked through fields of
wheat, and clothed themselves in woollen robes, woven from the wool of sheep
cared for by shepherds.
Throughout his Gospel, John
weaves the images of bread (wheat) and wine (vines). The richness of these
images goes well beyond simile, metaphor or analogy, to symbol. Wheat is
crushed and broken in the grinder, the husk is discarded, a leaven added, and
the bread rises and is food for the hungry. Like wheat, the grapes are
harvested and crushed underfoot, yeast is added to the juice and it is then
fermented, the spirit arises from the wine and becomes drink for the thirsty.
These Eucharistic elements are pre-figured throughout the text, ensuring that
the reader and listener slowly develop and understand
that Jesus’ presence pervades not
only the Gospel, but all of creation (John 1:1ff).
By way of extension Jesus says
of himself: I am the vine, you are the
branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because
without me you can do nothing ….. If you remain in me and my words remain in
you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my
Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples (15:5f).
From this we understand our
dependence on Jesus and our need to remain connected, in conversation with him
in order that our lives are full and rich and that the fruit of our labours
will challenge and transform the world in which we live. This is not
impossible, whether we look at the martyrology (of the saints), or at the
people who have made a difference in our own lives. Look at the impact that the
elderly St John XXIII made not just in the life of the church, but on the
world, or of our own St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
This is not beyond you or me.
We might not be up there in that great catalogue of the holy, but the
transformation that your relationship with Jesus might make in you, or in your
spouse, your family and work colleagues could be immeasurable.
Further, in the same way that
John explores Jesus’ presence through creation and Eucharist, we are invited to
participate more readily both in celebrating creation and living out the
Eucharist every day. This indeed would be ready fruit.
Peter Douglas
HEAD OF SCHOOL SERVICES, NORTH
PETER'S WHEREABOUTS FOR NEXT TWO WEEKS:
MEETINGS COMING UP:
FROM MARIST REGIONAL COLLEGE:
FROM ST FINN BARR'S:
St Finn Barr's students marching in Anzac Parade
FROM OUR LADY OF MERCY:
FROM ST JOSEPH'S - QUEENSTOWN:
FROM ST BRENDAN SHAW COLLEGE:
FROM ST JOSEPH'S - ROSEBERY:
Children attending the Anzac Service at Zeehan
FROM ST THOMAS MORE'S:
FROM STELLA MARIS:
FROM LARMENIER:
FROM SACRED HEART - LAUNCESTON:
FROM ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE - PROSPECT:
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WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MOTHER TERESA
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FROM STAR OF THE SEA:
FROM OUR LADY OF LOURDES:
FROM ST PATRICK'S - LATROBE:
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