ARE YOU IN TOUCH?

5th Sunday of Easter
Jn 15:1-8

The Gospel today reminds me of the selling theme of the Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT): “PLDT – Keeping You in Touch”. Jesus is like PLDT. He keeps us in touch.

When we reflect on the Gospel today, very often we consider only our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. Our focus is on keeping in touch with Jesus. Of course, that should be our first consideration as regards the Gospel today. However, we miss so much if we end our reflection with such consideration only.

Jesus also keeps us in touch with one another. Anyone who is in touch with Jesus is necessarily in touch with all those who are in touch with Jesus too. Thus, Jesus, as our communion, is indeed our “common union”. He unites us with one another. Communion with Him inevitably and simultaneously presupposes and establishes communion among us who are His branches. This though echoes Pope John Paul II’s teaching in Ecclesia de Eucharistia when he said that the Holy Eucharist presupposes communion and at the same time nourishes communion.

Jesus is the Vine that has many branches. Every branch attached to Him is necessarily connected with the other branches. Each branch cannot help but be attached to the other branches connected with Jesus.

We cannot, therefore, acknowledge Jesus but reject our brethren. We cannot receive Jesus but refuse our brethren. Our “amen” to the Eucharist is our “amen” to each and every branch of the Vine.

We may of course fall in line to receive Jesus in Holy Communion today even if there is someone we refuse to accept, to forgive, to love, and to serve. But is that not a sacrilegious communion? Remember: Communion does not only keep us in touch with Jesus, Jesus should keep us in touch with one another too.