--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for April 29, 2018 - 5th Sunday of Easter description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/04/29/daily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for April 29, 2018 - 5th Sunday of Easter Apr 29, 2018 4:01:17 AM  |  by [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/deanna-bartalini) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ***Today's Gospel: [John 15:1-8](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042918.cfm) - 5th Sunday of Easter*** Such a beautiful image and such a simple message. Stay connected to the Father and to Jesus and your life will bear fruit, good fruit, abundant fruit. When we are connected to Jesus we can do anything and when we are not connected, we can do nothing. Why then do we struggle? Why do we lose our attachment to the vine of true freedom and joy that has been offered us? We lose it because of sin; because we think we know better; because we have it all under control. Inside of each of us we fight against concupiscence, our natural inclination to sin. The way to win the fight is to do what Jesus tell us in this passage from John four times, “remain in me.” If we remain in Him and His words remain in us, we will bear fruit. How do we remain in Him? The sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Communion, help us stay close to Jesus by keeping sin away from us. Reading, praying with and studying the Word help as well. A daily examination of conscience helps to keep us honest with ourselves and reminds us to ask for forgiveness from God and those we have hurt. Many years ago, I toured the vineyards at the Biltmore in Ashville, NC, and I can still see the vines everywhere, grapes in all different stages of growth. And then there were grapes that had fallen off the vine and were trampled on, with no hope of growth. Thank God, we can fall off the vine and come back, no matter how trampled we may feel. Remain in Him, the One Who loves us and knows us and wants to help us bear more fruit to glorify our Father. ### Ponder: What do you need to do to remain close to Jesus so that you can bear more fruit? Is it more prayer, scripture, sacraments? Make a plan, follow it and see what He does in your life. ### Pray: Jesus, You call us to stay as close to You as a vine to branches. Thank You for giving us life and joy and abundance as no one else can. Amen. --- *Copyright 2018 Deanna Bartalini* **Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning!** * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * **Interests ** Daily Digest Daily Gospel Reflections Sunday Brunch Specials Catholic Mom.com Book Club   [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline.png) ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F04%2F29%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F04%2F29%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F04%2F29%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20April%2029%2C%202018%20-%205th%20Sunday%20of%20Easter) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F04%2F29%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2018%2F04%2F29%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-april-29-2018-5th-sunday-easter%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Deanna%20Bartalini%202025-1.png) ### [Deanna Bartalini](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/deanna-bartalini) Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of [LiveNotLukewarm.com](https://LiveNotLukewarm.com), works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister. Deanna writes from her experiences of over 40 years of marriage, children and grandchildren. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for April 22, 2019 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/04/22/daily-gospel-reflection-for-april-22-2019/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for May 2, 2018 - St. Athanasius Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/05/02/daily-gospel-reflection-may-2-2018-st-athanasius/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 12, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/09/12/daily-gospel-reflection-for-september-12-2018-2/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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