#christlike

“May Christ be heard in our language, may Christ be seen in our life, may Christ be perceived in our hearts.”

This is the target. To become what St. Peter Damian (today’s saint) is describing. To be so completely united with Christ that everything about us reflects Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to live to your fullest potential, to be who God made you to be, this is it.

Not just to talk about it, not just to do it, but to be it.

How is that possible? How do we become that Christlike?

Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel when He says, “I am the 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.”

Plants only have so much energy. When a plant has lots of extra, random shoots and branches, it divides up its energy between all of those shoots and branches.

None of them amount to much. None of them bear fruit.

This is why if you want a tree or a vine to bear fruit, you have to help the plant to focus its energy on the branches that matter.

You have to get rid of all of the extra, random shoots and branches that are dividing up its energy. You have to prune it.

You and I work the same way.

We only have so much energy. When we’re distracted by the cares and worries and “shoulds” of this life, we divide up our energy between all of that stuff just trying to keep up.

None of it amounts to much. None of it bears fruit.

If you’re not seeing much fruit from what you’re doing right now, then the best way you can use this Lent (which starts tomorrow) is to do some pruning.

From your words, prune the things that don’t reflect Christ.

From your deeds, prune the things that don’t reflect Christ.

From your heart, prune the things that don’t reflect Christ.

Until all that’s left are the things that reflect the One who loves you best.

Let them grow in you. Let them grow in your words, in your deeds, and in your heart.

Until all that you are is Christ.

And you are exactly who God made you to be.