We are reminded today that without the Lord we can do nothing: "Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless is abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me." (Jn 15: 4) Is it possible that once I have been baptized and confirmed that I have all I need in my relationship with God? Do I need to go to Mass, or can I pray by myself and direct my own spiritual path? The answer to this is "no." By osmosis we absorb harmful influences from the surrounding society, and we are misled internally by our pride and delusions of self-sufficiency. Jesus tells the disciples: "You have already been cleansed by the word I have spoken to you." (Jn 15: 3) We need constant "cleansing" through listening to the Word and receiving the sacraments. The Early Church knew that it was not acting independently of Jesus and of Peter, the Rock, on which he built his Church: "Then I (St Paul) laid before them... the Gospel I had proclaimed among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain." (Gal 2: 2). The Risen Lord told them: "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Mtt 28: 20) and at the conclusion of St Mark's gospel: "And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it." (Mk 16: 20)
