Memorial of Saint Joseph the worker and World Labour Day.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 15,1-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch -- and withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

With the image of the Father as vine grower, the Son as the vine and the disciples as the branches, Jesus wants to describe the circularity of love that unites the disciples with him and the Father. This image is used many times in Scripture to describe the relationship between the Lord and his people. On this day that unites the figure of St. Jospeh and Work Labour Day, this image reminds us that the union between the vine and the branches produces good fruits. By uniting his disciples to him, he makes them part of the same love he has with the Father. He begins his discourse saying, "I am the vine, and you are the branches." With this image, he wants the disciples to understand well the type of bond that he establishes with them: the relationship is so close so as to form one being with him. In effect, the branch lives and gives fruit only if it remains attached to the vine; if it broke off it would become dry and die. And so, to remain attached to the vine is essential for the branches. For this Jesus continues, "Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." The term "to abide" is used eleven times in this Gospel passage and it is followed by the expression "to bear fruit." Bearing fruit is result of the disciples listening to the Word of God with an attentive heart. This was true also for Joseph who, listening to the Word of god by the angel, held the dream of the Father by keeping Mary and her Son with him.