• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Cut back on your consumption of red meat.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid stress.
• Get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
• Don’t smoke.
• Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages.
When our personal physician gives us such advice we accept it and try to follow it. We trust that our doctor has our best interests in mind. We also accept his or her advice because we believe doctors know what they are talking about. They have gone to medical school, they have studied the human body, and they have experience in treating patients. They know what works.
However, when it comes to the spiritual side of life, many people are not so willing to listen to the advice they are given – even when that advice comes from Jesus Christ, the ultimate expert on spirituality. Who knows more about spirituality than Jesus Christ, the one who is the way, the truth and the life?
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us what we absolutely need to do if we wish to be spiritually healthy, if we wish to flourish as Christians. Jesus tells us that we need to be connected to him just as a branch needs to be connected to the vine in order to have life. And then he continues: “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.” If we think about the English word ‘abide’ – we get closer to the sense of the greek word “remain.” Abide in me – be present in love, be turned toward, resting in – that what Jesus wants from us. And to make it abundantly clear, Jesus uses that word “remain” eight times in this passage. Being connected with Jesus is critical.
But here is the other truth about this passage, that we sometime take for granted. We remain in Jesus when we are part of the Church, part of the living Body of Christ.
• It is in the Church that Jesus speaks to us as we hear the scriptures proclaimed and preached.
• It is in the Church that Jesus nourishes us through the sacraments, above all through the Eucharist in which he gives us a share in his very life and unites us with himself in one “holy communion.”
• It is in the Church that Jesus supports us through our fellow Christians who walk with us on our journey of life and who give us examples of holiness, sacrifice, generosity, and service.
• It is in the Church that Jesus also tests our faith as we deal not only with saints but also with sinners. We are imperfect people walking the pilgrim path home. But we do so together.
I hear college students often say: “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” Jesus, the divine physician says: “Buzzzz! Wrong answer, thanks for playing.” We cannot be connected to Jesus without being part of the Christian community, without remaining part of the Body of Christ. That is the full import of this image that Jesus uses with us, his disciples. Remain in Jesus, remain in his church, remain with each other – all are needed to be connected to the vine of God’s love.
Practically speaking – look around during communion and pick 1 person whom you will pray for this week. Let that person remain with you in love. And then do some ‘abiding with Jesus in prayer – rosary, in front of the tabernacle, a walk – it matters not, only that we do so.
People who do not follow the advice of their doctor run the risk of injuring their health. Let us remember to follow the advice of our divine physician – Jesus – and remain in his presence.
(Finally, a word to our 1st communicants – How many of you like EVERY type of food put on your plate? Neither do I. However, what do our wise mom’s and dad’s usually tell us about those foods? “Eat it, it’s good for you!” What does Jesus tell us about the Eucharist – It is almost the same: “Eat it OFTEN– it is good for you.” That is what it means to REMAIN with him. Today, not only do we get to stay with Jesus, but, in this food of life, HE stays with us. On your first communion and your five hundredth, and beyond – He stays with US.