1 May, Wednesday — Pruning our Lives to Grow in Faith

Wednesday of the 5^th Week of Eastertide

Acts 15:1-6
Jn 15:1-8

He prunes to make it bear even more…

Since I’ve moved into my new home, I’ve tried to dabble in a bit of plant-growing. While it is therapeutic in some ways, taking care of plants also provides some lessons and food for thought as I link it to my own faith journey.

I’ve learnt that to allow for better growth of plants, one must prune regularly besides the usual watering and fertilising of the plants; even cutting off healthy green foliage to allow for more growth. Any sign of leaves or branches that are browning, drying or wilting, should also be removed to allow the plant to dedicate more resources to growing.

That perhaps is one way the Lord helps us grow. What is not needed or beneficial, or unable to bear fruit in life, He removes. And there definitely will be areas in our lives that in some ways are not needed or unable to bear lasting fruit in our lives, be it our sinful habits, our judgmental ways etc.

At the same time, what could have been ‘green’ or healthy, the Lord might also prune or cut away to allow for more fruit to grow in our life. We just have to trust that He knows what’s best for us and the plans He has in store for us.

The invitation I see in today’s Gospel is to remain in Him; to live in Him and to be the best version of ourselves that bear fruits in plenty; and to continue to prune ourselves and shake off the aspects of our life that does not bear fruit — our bad habits, our sins or our attachments to material possessions.

Conversely, if we do not remain in God and be cut away from Him, then as the Gospel says, we are cut off and burnt. Hence, let us remain in His love and live in Him, so that we may receive of His graces to live in His light and to bear fruit that will last.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Lee)

Prayer: Lord, help me to be able to see your presence in my life and allow you to prune me and shape me to who you want me to be.

Thanksgiving: Thank you dear Lord, for helping me to grow every day in spite of my unworthiness.