“I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” // John 15:5

I hung up the phone call in disbelief. Did I understand this correctly? Someone I loved was in desperate need of help. My mind was trying to process the details of the situation because they didn’t make sense. All I knew was that I had to get into the car and go immediately.

As I drove, I cried out to God. I was angry and hurt. Our family had already been dealing with a lot, and I didn’t know how much more we could take. I wondered why all our prayers and pleading with God for deliverance from this cross had not been answered. Instead, it just got worse. 

In the days that followed, I desperately tried to trust in God when everything looked bleak. The phrase “God is good—all the time” kept going through my head and, frankly, it annoyed me. It’s a quaint proclamation when all is well, but in the thick of suffering, it’s harder to believe. 

In today’s Gospel Acclamation, we hear, “I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). During this trial God challenged me to remain in Him and cling to His strength. As the weeks passed, I saw glimmers of hope and difficult circumstances actually paved the way to small positive outcomes. The cross is still heavy, but God steps in and provides relief when we need it. 

Is there a cross you are dealing with right now? What can you do to help you lean on God more? Perhaps you could kneel before Him in the Blessed Sacrament, receive the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or just cry and pour your heart out to Him. Or maybe your crosses are lighter, and God is asking you to help bear someone else’s cross. 

Come, Holy Spirit, breathe your life in me. Draw me closer to You so I can live through these difficult situations in my life with courage, trust, and peace. May this suffering bear fruit and give glory to God. Amen.