Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 9:26-31, 1 John 3:18-24, and John 15:1-8. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32).

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." 

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 29, 2018)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 29, 2018)

Community in Mission: Fundamentals for Fruitful Discipleship - A Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter (28 APR 18)

The Sacred Page: How Do You Know That You Are Saved? 5th Sunday of Easter (26 APR 18) 

St. Paul Center: On the Vine: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Father George William Rutler Homilies: 2018-04-29 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Word on Fire: Four Spiritual Lessons from the Life of Paul (Cycle B * Easter * Week 5)

Spirituality of the Readings: Cutting Back (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

In Exile: The Jesus Code - Unraveling the Secret (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Persecutor Turned Promoter (Fifth Sunday of Easter
)

The Word Encountered: Radical Faith (Fifth Sunday of Easter
)

Historical Cultural Context: God the Patron (Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine (Fifth Sunday of Easter)