Scripture:
Reflection:
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
-John 15:5
Have you ever forgotten where you put your car? In the Catholic grade school I attended, when we lost something, St. Anthony would help us find it if we just prayed to him. One time, I couldn’t remember where I had parked my car. I prayed to St. Anthony and suddenly I found my car. I found myself saying, “Never mind St. Anthony, I found it.” How many times during confession or the sacrament of penance have you or I ever confessed the sin of self-reliance?
Yet, today’s scripture verse clearly states: “without me you can do nothing”. We Americans pride ourselves on “pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” How many of us genuinely reflect upon today’s scripture passage and its implications for our daily lives? Something inside of us wants to resist God’s help even when it is clear that we have received it. We like to think that we can take care of ourselves. But today’s gospel is quite clear: “without me you can do nothing”. (Kathleen Swartz McQuaig, Living Faith, April, May, June 2025, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Bayard Publications.)
In today’s first scripture reading, we learn that faith is not dependent upon self-reliance. Paul and Barnabas seek guidance from God, the Apostles and presbyters. (Acts 15:1-6) Let us not discount today’s Gospel. We need the Lord’s guidance and assistance with all that we do. Let us take to heart the gospel message and rejoice that we are not in this life’s journey alone. Thank you, Lord, for being with me on this journey of life and for sustaining and enabling me to bear fruit for you.
Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.