The Vineyard Laborer

I Am the Vine, You Are the Branches Jn 17: 1- 8 Fifth Sunday of Easter The prophet Isaiah spoke of God as one who had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines; he built a watch-tower in the midst of it and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes (  Isaiah 5: 1 – 2). In our reading today, we see God once more described as one who takes care of the vine. He pays particular care of the vine so that it can yield fruits. What is new, however, in our gospel reading, is that the vine which God takes care of is his son Jesus together with all those who are united with him as branches on this vine. Jesus claims himself to be the vine and we as branches. This imagery is filled with meanings that convey union and dependency. Just as the branches are attached and united to the vine, we, in a similar way are attached and united to Jesus himself....

I am the Good Shepherd Jn 10: 11 – 17 Fourth Sunday of Easter Today’s gospel reading is about Jesus the good shepherd. The image of a   shepherd has often been used in the Old Testament to symbolize God’s role in leading his people Israel. God is a shepherd who provides for his people (Ezekiel   34: 1- 31).   The image of a shepherd leading his sheep is a very familiar image especially in a country like Israel where sheep and goats are a common livestock. Sheep and goats need to be tended well and cannot be left on their own. This is why a shepherd is always there to take care of them. The dependency of the flock on the shepherd is real. The sheep cannot survive without a shepherd. Without a shepherd, it is impossible for the flock to navigate through vast and at times dangerous terrain to find food and be protected from all sorts of predators. It is no wonder therefore, that God uses the imagery of the shepherd and the flock to describe his rel...

He Opened Up Their Minds Third Sunday of Easter Lk 24: 35 – 48 The Gospel reading today recounts to us one of the appearances of Jesus to his disciples after he rose from the dead. The disciples were gathered together when suddenly, out of nowhere, Jesus stood in their midst and said: “ Peace be with you.” Startled and terrified, they thought that Jesus was a ghost and could not believe what they were seeing.             Jesus assured them that it was really him and not a ghost. He then showed them his hands and feet and invited them to touch and see him saying: “ Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”   As he showed them his hands and feet, they were joyful but were still in disbelief and kept wondering how all these could be real.             Knowing that his disciples still couldn’t believe what th...

Do Not Doubt but Believe Jn 20: 19 - 29 First Sunday of Easter Today’s Gospel reading is about Jesus’ appearance to a group of disciples. Jesus has just been crucified and buried. And now, there are reports that he has risen from the dead and has appeared to some of them. The reading begins with a description of how these disciples felt at these moments. They met behind closed doors. This indicated how afraid they were. And then suddenly, despite the closed doors, Jesus appears in their midst. The first words of the risen Jesus were: “ Peace be with you.”   Then he showed them his hands that bore the marks of the nails that pierced them. He also showed them his side which bore a wound caused by a lance that pierced his side.   Then the Gospel says that the disciples “rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” Then Jesus again says: “ Peace be with you.”     The repeated greetings of peace seem to assure and comfort the fearful disciples that now, all...