Fifth Sunday of Easter

In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges us to remain in Him, even going so far as to say that without Him, we 'can do nothing.' When Saul experiences his conversion and becomes St. Paul as we know him, he wants to join the disciples because he knows the importance of belonging to a Christian community and becoming part of the Body of Christ. However, they fear and avoid him due to his previous persecution of early Christians. The testimony of Barnabas allows St. Paul to join the community he longs for in order to remain in Christ. He speaks out 'boldly in the name of the Lord,' sharing his story and speaking to others about how Jesus transformed his life. Lastly, he perseveres through desolation, both from the early disciples' fear of him and persecution from those who would have him killed for his faith. In each of these ways, St. Paul shows us what it looks like to remain in the Lord.

Even in the midst of turmoil, the early Church is at peace because its disciples know how to remain in Christ. They receive the consolation of the Spirit and stand rooted in the solid ground of their faith. They know that to bear good fruit, they need to belong to Jesus, our 'true vine,' and remain in Him. He asks us to trust that when He makes a promise, He will see it through, sustaining us every step of the way. Maybe that won’t look like what we imagine it might, but He is always faithful, and He is still good.

Do you have a community rooted in the Church? If not, what are some steps you can take to find connection in the Body of Christ?

If you had to tell someone about how God has moved in your life, what would you tell them?

What would it look like for you to turn to the Lord in a difficult season?