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

Gal 2,19-20; Ps 33; Jn 15,1-8
23 JULY

Jesus says: “He who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit”. It is right that we ask ourselves: “How do we remain in Christ? How does Christ remain in us? “. But even before that: “How do you get into Christ Jesus?” One enters Christ Jesus by getting converted to his Word. His Word is that of the Apostles. One listens to the Word of the Apostles, he converts to it. He lets himself be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; he becomes the body of Christ and his Church founded on Peter. Christ Jesus founded only this Church. All the others were founded or built or designed by men. But they lack many things. Who is without the Holy Spirit. Who is without sacraments. Who is without apostolic succession. Who is without the Eucharist. Who is without truth. Who is without true morality. Who is without growth in truth. Whoever pursues his thoughts and announces them as true thoughts of God. Who is even without Christ the Lord according to the purity of truth. If one does not remain in hierarchical communion with the apostolic Church he does not remain in the true Christ. We cannot produce fruit. We are not in the true Church of Christ.

For, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring (the) good news!” But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?” Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ (Rm 10,9-17).

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favour with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved (At 2,37-47).

But one can stay in the Church in an “absent” way, with the body. This happens when Christ does not dwell in us. Christ dwells in us if we are listeners of his Holy Spirit. As He was always listening to the Father in the Holy Spirit and was in the Father, so the disciple must be a listener of the Spirit of God so that Christ may dwell in him.

“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 everyone 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 one who lives in the Word of the Apostles can hear the Spirit. There is no listening outside.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints make us true hearers of the Word of the Apostles of Jesus.