Jn. 15: 1-8
” Remain in my love.” God doesn’t want us to be successful but fruitful. What is the difference between being fruitful and successful? Are they same? We always tend to think that both are same. Therefore, we take it for granted that the successful person is also a fruitful person. But in reality both are entirely different just like the day is distinct from the night. Being successful, isn’t it immoral? certainly not. But it can be misguiding, when a person is loaded with a certain thinking pattern that focuses only on success. In order to be successful, I can choose any means, I can make use any person for my personal gratification and not considering that person as an end in himself/herself but only as means. Unfortunately many are attracted to this philosophy of life, the contemporary society is very much influenced by this way of thinking. Corporate world propagates this style of functioning as though it builds the company as well as the society. Then what is the meaning of being fruitful?
It is true that being fruitful is demanding because we have to choose a road that is less travelled but it is not difficult. It is a way of life wherein we become a simple ripple that builds the civilization of love against the undercurrents of consumerist and hedonistic life styles. It is a life style that cares everyone even our mother earth.
Jesus suggest a short cut to live this ideal; that is, remain in his love. when we remain with Jesus, spending qualitative time with him by sitting at his feet and tuning our ears to his words, this process transforms our being. our horizon expands to that of Christ. Our heart of stone will be replaced with the heart of flesh. We develop a world vision that keep place for our fellow beings. People always quote our success stories and evaluate us based on our achievements. But Christ will be awaiting us with that old age question “Did You Love”? Let us remain in his love because he is the source of love and let us grow in his love.
I Shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
( ‘The Road Not Taken’ – Robert Frost’s )