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We must always remain connected to the source of all life, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Otherwise we will wither and die.

You who were touched by the Lord in your own personal encounter know perfectly well what I am talking about. If like me, then prior to encountering Jesus you would have gone through life searching for love in the wrong places.  Seeking peace of mind but never finding it.  This all changed when you came into the loving embrace of your Lord and God. What was lost is found, the void of emptiness is filled. Peace such that the world can never give flowed through your every being. Your heart could not be contained within itself and it expanded tenfold! You now love as you have never loved before and lead a fruitful life.  And you know through experience that He will prune you so that you can bear much more fruit for Him. And so willing accept the challenges and trials that come.

This is the same wonderful experience of being loved by God our loving Father for ALL of us sisters and brothers in Christ. We the many branches are connected to the One vine who nourishes us. We therefore must be One in Him. Even in our many disagreements we must come together as One to discuss, pray, discern and find solutions for the greater good of all. There will be times where we have to humbly accept that we cannot move forward at this present time and so agree to disagree. We pray the Holy Spirit will find a way for us.

Lord let us be one, as You and our Heavenly Father are one, just as You are in Him and He is in You. May we also be in You so that the world may believe that You have sent us. Amen Alleluia!

First reading

Acts 15:1-6

They were to go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders

Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.

    All the members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them.

    But certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.

Gospel

John 15:1-8

I am the vine, you are the branches

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine,

and my Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in me that bears no fruit

he cuts away,

and every branch that does bear fruit

he prunes to make it bear even more.

You are pruned already,

by means of the word that I have spoken to you.

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.

As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,

but must remain part of the vine,

neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine,

you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me, with me in him,

bears fruit in plenty;

for cut off from me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;

these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,

and they are burnt.

If you remain in me

and my words remain in you,

you may ask what you will

and you shall get it.

It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,

and then you will be my disciples.’