The essence of Christian discipleship
"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. " (John 15:4–5) In this central declaration from the Farewell Discourse of Christ, spoken on the eve of His Passion, the Lord offers a profound invitation to intimate communion with Himself. The image of the vine and the branches, drawn from agrarian life but steeped in rich biblical symbolism, expresses the indispensable union between the believer and Christ. To "remain" or "abide" (menÅ) is not a temporary connection but a continual indwelling marked by love, obedience, and perseverance. This abiding is both mystical and moral, interior and ecclesial, sacramental and personal. It is the very essence of Christian discipleship. Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine—a f...