Already Pruned

Fifth Sunday of Easter

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31 ~~~ Psalm 22 ~~~ 

~~~1 John 3:18-24 ~~~ John 15:1-8 ~~~

God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

In spite of the many challenges confronting the early Christians

we hear that they were at peace.

In our world today peace seems to be clouded

 by violence or natural disasters.

Perhaps we are tempted to view peace as a commodity

like something which we can purchase.

Peace in our heart is not influenced or dependent 

by the world in which we live.

Ask for a deeper peace and it shall be given to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Jesus does not beat around the bush 

when it comes to his message of love.

I remember writing papers in college trying

 to get as many words as possible...thinking the longer the paper 

the more impressed the professor would be with my work.

Of course, a good professor would see right through

 the fluff padding of the extra words.

Jesus says we are already pruned 

because of the words he has spoken.

Jesus speaks only what it necessary for us to hear.

Jesus only speaks the bare truth.

Jesus only speaks words of love, care, and compassion.

Actually there is nothing complicated about his message.

For some reason we have a tendency to make life complicated.

Do we fool ourselves into believing that the more complicated

 things are the more value they hold?

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

This is the simple truth...

without Jesus we can do nothing.

Blessed to have been given the gift of faith.

Peace be with you.