You Are the Branches

I am the vine, you are the branches...

John 15:5

The above quote from John is one of my favorite images from the Gospel. Jesus is the vine and we are His branches. Just how awesome is that? We are all connected to Jesus and He with us; but have you ever realized this means, too, that we are all connected to one another? Connected in and through Christ? We, in turn, often become a vine for others to become branches as we bring closer those who have not yet heard the Gospel message.

Jesus is the vine and I am but one of His branches reaching out to others. Not too long ago I built a Facebook page for our parish and our first subscribers were from the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Zambia, South Africa, Turkey, France and a few others. I was deeply humbled that from my small desk here at Sacred Heart that we could reach out to the world. I truly feel like a branch reaching out to others to connect them to Christ. We publish the daily readings and inspirational quotes and videos, post parish events, and one parishioner posts tips on bringing the faith to our children. Jesus called us to go into the world and spread the Gospel from land-to-land. We are His branches, His hands and His voice.

This week, take some time to contemplate being a branch off of Christ’s vine. Do you feel a connection to the vine? Do you feel a kinship with the other branches? Or do you see yourself being a part of the vine and reaching out to connect more branches, those who are not as close to Christ? Go and make a difference… stretch out your branches with the love of Christ and pray that more branches will grow.

God Bless, Holly Clark