Gospel (Jn 15,1-8) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «I am the true vine and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he cuts, and every branch that bears fruit, he takes so that it may bear more fruit. You are already pure, because of the word that I announced to you. Remain in me and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; then they pick it up, throw it into the fire and burn it. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. In this my Father is glorified: that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

With the image of the Father as a farmer, of the Son as the vine and of the disciples as the branches, Jesus wants to describe that circularity of love that unites the disciples to him and to the Father. And it is an image that is used several times in the Scriptures to describe the relationship between the Lord and his people. On this day that unites the figure of Saint Joseph with Labor Day, this image reminds us that the union between the vine and the branches is the product of good fruit. By uniting the disciples to himself, Jesus makes them share in the same love that he has with the Father. He begins by saying: "I am the vine, you are the branches." With this image he wants the disciples to understand well the type of bond he establishes with them: the relationship is so close that it forms one thing with him. In fact, the branch lives and bears fruit only if it remains attached to the vine; if it were to come off it would dry up and die. Staying tied to the vine is therefore essential for the shoots. For this reason Jesus continues: "He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." The term "remain", used eleven times in this passage, is always followed by the expression "bear fruit". Bearing fruit is typical of disciples who listen to the Word of God with an attentive heart. This was also the case for Joseph who, listening to the Word of God from the angel, guarded the Father's dream, taking Mary and her Son with him.