Today is Wednesday, May 6, and Robert picked the three of us up as usual and right on time for Holy Mass at St. Mary’s — Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me. This is the sixth day of Mary’s beautiful month of May, and I kept thinking how every spring flower seems to be trying to say a little Hail Mary.
Father LeRoy read the holy Gospel from Saint John, where Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” In his homily, Father explained that a branch cannot stay alive by itself. It must remain joined to the vine, or it will dry up and bear no fruit. He said our souls are like that too. We must stay close to Jesus through prayer, Holy Mass, Confession, Holy Communion, and by keeping His words in our hearts.
Father LeRoy also said that when Our Lord “prunes” a soul, it does not mean He is being unkind. It means He is cutting away what keeps us from loving Him better. Sometimes a sacrifice, a disappointment, or a little correction can feel hard, but Jesus uses it to make our souls stronger and more fruitful.
On the way home, Robert and Sister Mary Claire explained it further. Robert said even on a farm, every living thing needs to be connected to its source of life. Sister said that Jesus is not only near us like a kind friend walking beside us. He wants us to remain in Him, like a branch joined to the vine. That made me think how close He wants to be to every soul.
Later in the morning, I followed Indian Creek downstream toward the cave. Mini came along happily, sniffing the damp grass and stopping now and then as if she had very important work to do. When we reached Our Lady’s Grotto, everything was quiet except the creek and the birds. Shaggycoat was there too, near the water, looking very wise and busy like beavers do.
I sat near the grotto with Mini close beside me and thought about the Gospel again. The vines and branches made more sense there, where everything growing seemed to belong to something bigger — roots, water, sunlight, and God’s care. I asked Our Lady to help me stay close to Jesus and not wander away like a little branch trying to live by itself.
Tonight I feel very thankful for St. Mary’s, for Father LeRoy’s homily, for Sister Mary Claire and Robert helping me understand, and for the quiet of Indian Creek. I want my soul to bear fruit for Jesus, even if it is only little fruit, like patience, kindness, obedience, and love.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Please keep me close to You, like a little branch on the vine. I do not want to try to be good all by myself, because Father LeRoy said that without You we can do nothing.
Please cut away anything in me that is selfish or cross or lazy, even if it is hard for me at first. Help me bear good fruit for You tomorrow — maybe by being patient, kind, obedient, and loving.
Bless Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Father LeRoy, and Mini. Bless Our Lady’s Grotto by Indian Creek, and help me remember to stay close to You always.
Amen.
Love,
Kathy
_____________
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 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.
Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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