homily notes: 5th Sunday of Easter

[I'm away from my computer today, so I typed this out on my phone. Remind me to never do that again.]

I've never been a huge car person. I mean, yes I'm interested in them and I know which ones I like, but I don't know entirely how they work or how to fix one.

However, I've become better educated because of a show called Top Gear. It's a British show that looks at all kinds of cars, some that are very normal and some that are outrageous. These have things like computer controls that allow you to drive at your best or refrigerators in the back seat.

These are awoke great options, but what matters most to the hosts of the show is, "How does it drive?" and for that you need fuel and an engine. That's the heart of the car. Without them you are not moving very fast.

Our society, and even we Christians, sometimes see our faith as a nice option, like heated seats or a sunroof. It's something that adds that little extra bit to our life. Our gospel today gives us a very different image.

"I am the vine, you are the branches."
How can a branch live without a vine? It can't. Jesus is saying that for us to live, we need to be connected to him.

This isn't about being comfortable or even being happy - this is about life. Our faith is not something we believe in and act on because it makes our lives easier or luxurious, it's what we need to be really alive. Far from being a collection of rules and rituals, it's a relationship - with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

Look at that image of the vine and the branches. They are one, part of one organism. We are that connected with Christ and, just as of you cut a branch from a tree, we wither and die unless we are one with him.

How do we stay connected to him? In the 2nd reading, John writes that when we keep Christ's commandments, we remain in him and he in us. By following the word of Jesus we stay connected to the source of our life.

This weekend is 1st Communion weekend in many parishes, including this one. What better image is there of being connected with Christ? - young Catholics receiving the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Christ for the first time. We may all be used to it, but try to look at this mystery with fresh eyes: He gives Himself to us, everything He is, and we say "amen" and accept him. He is the vine, we are the branches. He is the source of our life and of our very being.

Without gas, or even without an engine, a car can coast for a while, especially if it's going downhill. We can coast through life, but if we want to truly move towards our ultimate home, we need fuel and power. We need our connection to God.

Jesus is not an option.