By Eldho Augustine csc –
Readings: Acts 15: 1-6; Jn 15: 1-8
Indeed, simple knowledge of the word is not enough to produce fruit, one must abide in Christ. We must abide in the vine. Producing fruit is not an automatic process in our life.
According to Jesus, we will only produce fruit if we abide in him. So, what does it mean to abide? It means “remain, live, stay, dwell.” Essentially, abiding in Christ begins and continues by believing in Christ. Just as we receive eternal life by believing in Jesus, we experience eternal life here and now by continuing to believe in him.
But we also must understand that abiding in Christ is more than just believing in him. However, we cannot produce fruit with our own efforts either. Only Jesus can produce fruit in our lives when we ‘abide’ in him. So, what is our responsibility? How can we allow Jesus to do this? By abiding in him. We need to place our trust in him to produce fruit in us as we love God and one another. This should be our dream and desire: to be a branch that produces fruits by abiding in Christ. Our words and actions should reveal that we abide in Christ.