Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 2021

Intro:

When I worked with my dad around the yard …it seemed I got stuck with all the “dirty work”. I sort of felt as if I was HIS SLAVE!!!

He’d say: “Get me this”
“Get me that”
And so I would.

But, I loved the yard work! Still do!

I Like …….. TRIMMING the bushes…. “Cutting back”… re-shaping them.

Today’s imagery is about GOD THE FATHER cutting us back.

WE, THE PEOPLE, the followers of JESUS,
The intentional disciples,

…… grow as the BRANCHES on the vine. We are growing ON JESUS as He is the VINE and sometimes we grow out of shape and then ………………………………….

…….someone has to PRUNE US!!! CUT US BACK!!! FROM GETTING OUT OF shape!!! And that is GOD doing the pruning, the cutting, the re-shaping!

What do you suppose would get pruned from our lives as followers of Jesus??

Maybe these days God wants to cut away our FEARS???

The world around us has “CRAZY” happenings. I know great discouragement and fear of the future comes to many of us just watching, reading, or listening to the news!!!

It does to me … when there is so much verbal and actual violence.

I wonder “What’s happening?” ….. And then I “get out of shape” and perhaps lose my faith for a bit. I forget that GOD IS GREAT AND HAS LOVE FOR US even in violent, crazy times. HE DOES LOVE!!!
KEEP BELIEVING THIS!!!
I was taught long time ago…. When I am fearful, I lack faith! I don’t want to found with fear. I want to be found with FAITH and remain with GOD

Now, I believe you don’t lack faith, I am sure of it, but, sometimes, when you and I become fearful of something, we can forget about our FAITH; our REMAINING in JESUS, and become OVERGROWN, out of shape, and need PRUNED BY GOD.

CONCLUSION

So today…..maybe the VINEGROWER wants to cut back any fears in you and I!!!
CHANGING our lives of the FEARFUL into the FAITHFUL!!!

Certainly, GOD knows how to do it.

Be open to thinking about what FEARS you may have these days and sit with God for a time…allow him to say:

“Remain in ME and bear much fruit as my disciples.”