Reflections from the Heart – March 2, 2025

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“Every tree is known by its own fruit.” One of the most profound things that Jesus has said to us, actually, one of the most profound things he has ever said to me is, “remain in me, as I remain in you.” How can the mystery of this great gift even be so remotely possible, the impossibility of remaining forever? Contemplate it, a God that cannot be contained in time or limited in any way by his creation chooses to live in you, reside in you, to remain in you, a poor sinner who still sins every day and is probably sinning this very moment, and yet this awesome God chooses to remain with you and actively remain in you. This type of remaining is ongoing. It continues to be. It is something that is constant and consistent. Remaining actively in the presence and person of God. It is always happening, not changing but rather remaining. Not like an attachment or an accessory that can change and interchange but rather permanently like a branch that remains on a vine that actively remains in love and in the love of God. A branch needs the vine to provide constantly and consistently the nourishment it needs to grow, flower then bear fruit with the help of the vine. The sustenance, energy, food, water, strength, shelter to bear good fruit that is pleasing to the Father. Always actively remaining in trust with God. Actively remaining in Holy Communion with God. Actively choosing in every moment and circumstance to remain actively in the life and the loving gaze of the Father, by actively doing so through the loving grace of the Son and by actively remaining in the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as surprising is to note and mention that the vine also needs the branch to receive the gracious gifts that pour out from the vine into the branch to bear fruit. The vine needs the branch to hold and carry the fruit. The vine needs the branch to flower and nectar and visibly reveal the goodness and wholesomeness, the sacred fragrance of the vine. It is a mutual act of mutually sharing and actively remaining in the loving relationship established in creation by the Father, continued in redemption by the Son and perpetually enriched by the gift and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united in a bond of trust and charity all choose to remain always in and with us. What will you actively choose? To remain or to regret?