“Remaining Connected to The Vine!”

Fifth Sunday of Easter – B

May 2, 2021

HOMILY OUTLINE

I.             Story:  Shadow of the Hawk

-young man and woman and Indian guide going up the mountainside, fleeing from evil   people.

                                  -woman slumps to ground and can’t go on

                                  -man tells her they must for their safety

                                  -Indian tells him to hold her close to his heart

                                   there, she will receive his strength and courage

                                  -finally, the woman feels strong enough to continue

II.            INTIMATE CONNECTION TO JESUS AS THE VINE

                                  -in order to remain his followers we must remain connected

                                  -in order to remain connected we must be nourished

                                  -in order to have love and life we must “remain” which implies a choice

  -Gospel outlines a very clear choice:  remain attached to the vine and bear fruit or be “thrown out” and burned.

III.           HOW DO WE REMAIN IN CHRIST?

                                  -NOT by talking the talk, but by walking the walk

                                  -NOT by telling people we are Christian Catholics, but by

                                   showing them through our deeds and actions.

                                  -NOT by being negative and pessimistic, but by being

                                   the opportunistic people God created us to be.

IV.          HOW ARE WE GRAFTED ONTO THIS “CHRIST-VINE?”

                                  -through the Initiation Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and

                                    Confirmation.

 -this is why the Easter season is a privileged time for celebrating these sacraments in   our Church.

V.            HOW DO WE CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO STAY

                CONNECTED?

                                -invite someone we know to church that hasn’t been in a while.

                                -make a conscious choice to become “fully conscious, active

                                 participants” in the worshipping life of our community.

                                -make a conscious choice to seek the good, the positive in

                                 our lives and the lives of those around us.

                                -make a conscious choice to develop a deeper, more intimate

                                 relationship with Christ our Vine and Shepherd.