St. Augustine’s early life was marked by rebellion and the pursuit of worldly pleasures, but he found his way to Christ through the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, and the guidance of St. Ambrose. St. Augustine’s life shows the power of repentance and the grace that comes from returning to Jesus. His story emphasises that no matter how far we may stray, staying connected to Jesus leads to healing, transformation, and purpose. How many of us stay connected to Jesus when everything goes well in our lives? Or do we only seek him when the road gets bumpy? Today’s Gospel reading reflects on the importance of staying connected to Jesus, as it is the key to living a fruitful, purposeful, and spiritually abundant life that honours him. Without Jesus, we lose direction, purpose, and the ability to thrive in our faith. He is the vine, and we are the branches – we must remain attached to him to bear fruit, even during periods of spiritual darkness and suffering.

PRAYER: Abba Father, prune us and shape our hearts, so that we can grow, be fruitful, and do your will. Amen.