Scripture Reflections for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Year B, Lectionary 53


Even though Paul persecuted the early Christian community, because he chose to be connected to the Vine that is Jesus, Paul was able to produce fruits for the Church. And to remain in Christ we must continually love God and neighbor, following God’s commandment. By all this we enter into God’s community, family, and in the divine communion of the Holy Trinity, where we experience true peace.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: BodyChurchCommandmentCommunionCommunityConnectionConversionDeathDetachmentDiscipleEncounterFailureFruitLoveMercyMissionObediencePaulPrayerPresencePruneRelationshipRemainSalvationScienceSelfishnessSeparateServeSt. PaulSurrenderTimeTrustUnionUnityVineWelcomeWineWorks

Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32
1 John 3:18-24
Catholic Productions

“what John is referring to when he speaks of love is an action, it's a choice that you make, right. We are, we don't just feel love, we do it.”


Brant Pitre in "Love in Deed and Truth" (April 28, 2021)
John 15:1-8
Bellarmine Chapel

“Pruning is painful, pruning is necessary though it's not always what we want”


Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ (April 28, 2024)

“People want to believe without belonging. However, believing the Good News entails belonging to the Church. Belonging is essential for wholeness and holiness.”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "I am the vine; you are the branches" (April 21, 2024)
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“if you listen very carefully to the gospel today…Your primary role is not to bear fruit, your primary role is to cling to the vine”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ in "I AM THE VINE" (May 02, 2021)
Catholic Productions

“Jesus basically gives us the essential principle for any kind of apostolic work or evangelization and that's this: ‘unless you abide in me you can't do anything, you can't bear any fruit, apart from me you can do nothing’ he says”


Brant Pitre in "The Vine and the Branches" (April 26, 2021)

“Your fruit, your talent is useless when it is not shared”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (April 28, 2021)
Catholic Productions

“So what he's describing is himself as the true vine of the true temple. It's just one more instance of Jesus identifying himself as the dwelling place of God on Earth and as the one whose very body was going to replace the new temple”


Brant Pitre in "Abide in Me - The Vine and the Branches" (May 15, 2019)
Overall Readings
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“We have been called into this communion so that it would not be about me and what I get out of this world before I go home, but it's about us and how we contribute to the building up of that us”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (April 28, 2024)
Catholic Women Preach

“when there is no logic about the pruning process or no logic in what I am being asked to surrender or release control of the trust is that much more difficult”


Monique Jacobs (May 02, 2021)
Catholic Women Preach

“There is something bold in the act of pruning, an act of trust that what will grow back will be stronger, more beautiful, yield better fruit than what we can see before us”


Karen Murphy (April 24, 2018)