One of the greatest gifts celebrated by the early church is the communion between Christ and his church. Even when disputes arose, they knew that Jesus stood by them through the action and power of the Holy Spirit, who accompanies the church as advocate and guide. As individual disciples, we are also invited to celebrate that oneness in which we participate through our sacramental life. Grafted unto Christ like the branch to the vine, we remain one with the Lord from whom we draw life and to whom we pledge our loyalty and obedience of faith. Being one with Jesus does not free us completely from challenges. The Father, the vinedresser, continues to prune us through the discipline of Christian discipleship to become better and more fruitful branches. Assuredly though, the safest and most life-giving place to be is to stay grafted and united with Him no matter where life takes us. For, cut off from him, we are only as good as a detached branch, off its life-giving stem; it withers and dies. One with Christ is majority.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us grafted unto you despite our unworthiness. Amen.