Fifth Sunday of Easter

One of the mantras of the modern age is that you end up enjoying the lifestyle that you have earned. Work hard and you will be successful in life. Is this true?  The Gospel reading assigned for this week is the account in John’s Gospel of Jesus as the true vine.  In one verse, we come across the words, ‘apart from me you can do nothing’.  It is so tempting to believe that our skills, qualifications, possessions, career, status and reputation are the fruits of our hard work, dedication and ability.  After all, we have made something of our lives.  Here Jesus delicately reminds us all, that this is simply not the case.  If we are skilled with our hands, it is a gift from God; if we are good at written exams, it is a gift from God; if we enjoy high paid jobs in a peaceful and thriving economy, it is a gift from God.  Our health, our energy, our artistic, creative, analytical and social abilities are all gifts from God.  The education and health services we benefit from are gifts from God.  Every single ability, talent and opportunity comes from the God who knitted us together in our mother’s womb.  What is our response?  It is to be eternally thankful and not to boast.  It is to live in a permanent state of humble gratitude to God and not to condemn or criticise others.  After all, apart from God, we can do nothing!