God calls all His disciples to follow Him and bear good fruit and in the following Scripture Jesus explains to us that our fruitfulness will depend on our ability to trust in Him, remain close to Him and honour His commandments.

Jesus says,

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:9-10

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8

“If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:6

Jesus uses a compelling image of a vine and its branches to help us to understand that He will provide the life force behind all our work. The branch must rely on the vine. The vine supplies the nutrients that the branch needs to live and be fruitful. Should the branch detach from the vine, the branch will soon wither away and die. And this mystery is proven out each day. People who choose to live without the continuous guidance and help of Our Lord Jesus often find themselves overwhelmed and worried. However the branch that is truly connected to the source of eternal life, Jesus Christ, is the branch that is nourished and made fruitful by the power of God’s infinite grace.

Notice that Jesus speaks of the need for the branch to be pruned.  God will continuously be grooming you and helping you to be more and more productive and fruitful.   Sometimes though our fruitfulness is reduced by attachments that are unproductive. Are our friendships leading us towards God or towards sources of temptation? Do we spend our leisure time on activities that will give glory to God or are we pursuing pleasures God would not approve of? Are we actively listening to the voice of God spoken in our conscience? Are we listening to God’s voice by reading the Bible and seeking out the meaning of God’s Word in our own life?

The notion of abiding in Jesus is the premise of spiritual intimacy. It’s not an occasional interaction with God, it’s a marriage of intimacy that is rooted in a mission to bear fruit that will last. This intimacy, like all serious relationships, is fostered by intimate communication and deep reverence and understanding.   We must give Jesus time; we must pray and communicate with Our Lord continuously. God has a plan for us that unfolds moment by moment, day by day, week by week, year by year…God will give us all that we need nourishing us with His Holy Spirit and feeding us with His own Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus desires our trust and our love and He wants us to know that He will never abandon us.

Sometimes the notion of bearing fruit can be misunderstood. If you are like me and are trained in business you may think of fruit as a set of results that you can see and understand, but the fruit that God desires is not always visible and discernable. God may be asking you to help your children to become patient by putting you in difficult situations where you must be patient with them. They will learn by your example. God may be slowly helping you to become more humble by putting you in relationships with people who irritate you. They may change by your example.

Before God trusts us with bigger things he will test us with little things. We all need to humble ourselves before the greatness of God and trust that Jesus will build us up one day at a time to become the people He wants us to become. I have chosen to be a woman of prayer. I pray everyday for people who are most in need of God’s mercy. I pray at different times of the day and I always pray at 3pm because 3pm is the time Jesus died for us on the Cross. At that time I am praying for you. I don’t leave a single person out of my prayer. I include every single person on earth. You may be thinking that’s a big prayer and I will tell you it is a big prayer and you what Jesus can handle it, He’s God! When will I see the fruit associated with that choice to pray? Likely never! But God sees what I can’t see and I trust in Him!

Trust in Jesus! Connect to your God, like the branch connects to the vine and sigh a sigh of relief. God is holding you with His omnipotence and His everlasting love for you! God will help you to grow in His love. Slowly you may notice little changes. Maybe for love of Jesus, you will choose to pray for someone that hurt you. That’s loving like Jesus loves. Maybe for love of Jesus you will volunteer to help a charity you think is honourable. That’s serving like Jesus. Maybe for love of Jesus you will forgive someone you didn’t think you could forgive. That’s being merciful like Jesus.

Let the love of Jesus transform you and receive the saving grace from the vine, Jesus Christ, that gives us eternal life. Let God prune away the character flaws, relationships and pursuits that are moving you away from God and trust that Jesus will never abandon you or forsake you for you are His and He loves you!