On this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we hear again the Gospel of John. Last week, we heard how Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd. This week we hear Jesus describe himself as the “true vine” and the Father as the vine grower. The Father cares for the well-being and fruitfulness of the vine through a process of pruning. Jesus is the Vine, the Source of all life and fruitfulness. In the metaphor of the Good Shepherd, we were the sheep. This week we are the branches growing out from the vine of Christ. We are incorporated into the very life of this precious Vine. St Paul makes the same point using the analogy of the human body, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” (1 Cor 12:27) What does this mean for each of us? Christ, as the vine, remains always with us, and we, as the branches, must always remain in Him if we are to truly live abundantly as disciples. Jesus uses the word “remain” no less than eight times in this passage. In our culture, the word “remain” usually means “don’t go away” but in its original Greek meaning it had a richer meaning closer to “living in” or “dwelling in.” Jesus is telling us that He will always be with us as the “true vine” in good times and bad. If we “remain” or “abide” in Him we will receive His sustenance, His life, and we will bear much fruit. If we fail to remain in Him, we will be like the branch that withers and dies and is eventually burned. This is not what Jesus desires. Jesus wants us to cling to Him and receive all God’s graces so we can bear much fruit as His disciples. We must use our free-will to choose to “remain” in Christ’s unmerited love. This choice must be made over and over every hour of every day. Will we choose to cling to His Holy Words, His Sacraments, and His real presence in the Mass?