“Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . . . . . . . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 21st May 2025 – JOHN 15:1-8.
So, prosperity in our source of livelihood and vocations is good and can as well be regarded as blessing from God.
However, can such also be regarded as bearing good fruits as can be seen in today’s teaching?
This question arises because, it is not only good people who believe and follow the teaching of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that prosper.
Even those whom the world perceive them to be terribly bad people are also seen to be prosperous.
See a prostitute, she plies her trade, becomes prosperous and earns her livelihood from there. She spreads her tentacles by recruiting more willing youngsters to expand her trade.
She then builds an empire from the proceeds of prostitution.
Before the world, she could be perceived as a ruthless business woman who has become prosperous by dint of hard work and the ‘blessing of God’.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ, though he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords came into this world, ministered and died in penury.
Even the cross he died on and the tomb he was buried in were not his own.
Christ Jesus in the course of his ministration was never known to preach about prosperity. It was even some generous women who catered for the welfare of him and his apostles.
Well, even if he did or attempted doing so, the people would have possibly not believed him. He simply did look or represent that.
Dude was even morn in a manger. At the stable of donkeys and cattle.
He grew up with a father whose best known trade is a cut and nail carpenter. The type that makes the bench and table where Chucks and Mr. Bassey sit under the ‘dogon yaro’ tree to play draft.
So, what then could be said to be an example of this good fruits that Christ is this particularly anxious about?
Possibly, it could be for one to be as charismatic as Reinhard Bonke, and gather a stadium full of people for ministration.
Or, possibly, like the Apostle Paul who looked intently at the man born a cripple and said to him, “Stand up on your feet” and the man sprang up?
Well, if we could be any of these and much more, it is very good and welcome.
However, that will be going too far and demanding too much from mere mortals like us.
So, what then should it be?
Dear friend, when we wake up in the morning and grab a broom to sweep. We should sweep both our frontage as well as that of our neighbour.
At the end of the month when we collect our salary, we must ensure that we spend equitably on our family.
Husbands should and must be faithful to their wives and wives should and must be faithful to their husbands.
Children must obey and keep instructions given by their parents, schools, places of worship and the government. We all should and must be law abiding.
My dear friend these good fruits is just living our every day as good people. That’s all!
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
21st May 2025