First Reading (Acts 9,26-31)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, Saul arrived in Jerusalem and sought to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him, because they didn’t believe he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took Saul with him, brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way, how the Lord had spoken to him, and how Saul had preached, in the name of Jesus, publicly, in the city of Damascus. From then on, Saul remained with them in Jerusalem and preached firmly in the name of the Lord. He also spoke and argued with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they sought to kill him. When they heard about this, the brothers took Saul to Caesarea, and then sent him to Tarsus. The Church, however, lived in peace throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. It consolidated and progressed in the fear of the Lord and increased in number with the help of the Holy Spirit.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (1John 3,18-24)
Reading of the First Letter of Saint John:
Little children, let us not only love with words and mouth, but with actions and in truth! There is the criterion to know that we are of the truth and to calm our heart before Him, because, if our heart accuses us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Dear friends, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence before God. And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that please him. This is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, according to the commandment he gave us. Whoever keeps his commandments remains with God and God remains with him. That he remains with us, we know by the Spirit he gave us.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 15:1-8)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes it, so that it will bear more fruit.” yet you are clean because of the word that I spoke to you. Abide in me and I will abide in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, so you cannot bear fruit by itself. you do not abide in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. These branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be given to you in this, that you may bear much fruit and become my disciples.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters in Christ, may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Today, I want to start our reflection with a simple but profound question: have you ever felt lost amid the demands and challenges of everyday life? We have all, at some point, experienced that feeling of disorientation, as if we were wandering along an unknown path. But know that you are not alone.
In the biblical passages we read today, we find stories and teachings that can guide us and bring clarity in the midst of this journey of faith. In the first reading of the Acts of the Apostles, we witness the transformation of Saul, who became Paul, one of the greatest evangelizers in history. Saul was known for persecuting Christians, but God’s grace found him and transformed him profoundly. He was welcomed by the Christian community who, initially, were afraid and suspicious of his intentions. However, Barnabas, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, intervened and introduced Paul to the apostles, establishing a connection between them. What can we learn from this? The importance of community, acceptance and reconciliation.
When we feel lost, we need the Christian community to support us and guide us on the path of faith. The communion of saints is a living reality in our lives, and each of us plays a fundamental role in this communion. We are called to welcome those around us, just as Barnabas welcomed Paul. It is through this welcome and reconciliation that we experience the living presence of Christ in our lives.
The second reading, from the First Letter of John, reminds us of the importance of love in our actions. Love is the essence of Christianity, and John exhorts us to love not just in words, but in deeds and in truth. To love in truth means that our actions must be in accordance with the teachings of Christ and the will of the Father. It is easy to say that we love God and our neighbors, but it is in small daily gestures of love that this statement becomes tangible.
When we feel lost, one of the best ways to find our way back is through love. Love God, seek Him in our prayers, in reading the Word and in the sacraments. Love your neighbor, reaching out to those in need, forgiving those who have offended you and being a presence of hope and comfort for those who suffer. Love is the light that guides us in darkness and returns us to the presence of the Father.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents us with the image of the vine and the branches. He tells us, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. […] Abide in me, and I will abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so you too, if you do not remain in me” (John 15:1.4). Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Without Him, we cannot bear fruit, we cannot find the way.
When we feel lost, we need to reconnect with the vine, which is Christ. We need to remain in Him, seek intimacy with Him through prayer, meditation on the Word and participation in the sacraments. It is through this union with Christ that we find the purpose, direction and strength to move forward.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we are invited to reflect on these biblical passages and apply them to our lives. May we welcome each other, find our way back through love and remain united to Christ, who is the true vine. May our actions be a living testimony of God’s love in us and that, in doing so, we may bear fruit that transforms the world around us.
To illustrate these principles and make them more tangible, allow me to tell a story. There once was a man who felt extremely lost in his life. He was overwhelmed by the pressures of work, societal expectations, and personal challenges. He felt like a directionless traveler, trying to find his way through a dense forest.
One day, he encountered a group of pilgrims who were on their way to a shrine. They invited him to join them on this spiritual journey. Along the way, they shared stories of their own struggles and victories, their experiences with God, and how they found purpose and direction in their lives.
This man then realized the importance of community. He realized that he was not alone on his journey, and that there were people willing to walk alongside him, encourage him, and guide him. He found welcome and reconciliation, just as Paul found in the Christian community.
Through this encounter, the man also learned about the power of love in action. He witnessed how those pilgrims loved each other, cared for each other, and supported each other. They not only talked about love, but lived it in their daily gestures and attitudes. This experience inspired man to seek love in his own life, to love God and his neighbors with concrete actions.
And finally, man found the true vine, Jesus Christ. He realized that in his search for direction and purpose, he had strayed from his source of life. He began to seek an intimate relationship with Christ, to remain in Him through prayer, meditation on the Word and participation in the sacraments. And as he reconnected with the vine, he began to bear fruit in his life – fruit of love, peace, joy, and hope.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we are invited to reflect on this story and apply it to our own lives. Just like the man in this story, we can also feel lost amid the demands and challenges of everyday life. But remember: we have a community that welcomes us, supports us and guides us. We have the call to love in action, to be living witnesses of God’s love in our lives. And most of all, we have the opportunity to reconnect with the true vine, Jesus Christ, and bear fruit that transforms the world around us.
I want to conclude this homily with a word of encouragement. No matter how lost we may feel, God never abandons us. He is always ready to welcome us, forgive us and guide us back to the right path. May we, today and every day, open our hearts to the grace of God, the love of Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
May this message motivate us to live according to the teachings of the Scriptures, to seek communion with the Christian community, to practice love in action and to remain united to Christ, the true vine. May we be light in the midst of darkness, hope in times of despair and love in a world that needs it so much.
May the Lord bless us all and guide us on our journey of faith. May He grant us the courage and determination to live as true disciples of Christ, bearing witness to His love and grace in every area of our lives.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
