"Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5)

Jesus spoke these words, as recorded in this Sunday's Gospel reading.  They are words spoken in the context of telling us that He is the Vine and we are the branches.  In other words, as a branch needs to be connected to the vine to live, so we need to be connected to Jesus.

So how do we get connected to Jesus?  How do we live as people who receive all their strength from Jesus?  

The answer is found in Jesus, not in us.  Just as a branch doesn't choose the vine to connect to, neither do we reach out to connect to Jesus.  He comes to us!  He chooses to connect with us, and give us life with Him.

Religion is defined as our beliefs and efforts to serve and worship God.
But Christianity is the Good News of the God who loves us and takes the action of coming to us in Jesus Christ.  

And the really Good News is that God loves all of us.  He came to be Savior of the world.  He connects with each and every one of us, through the work of the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacraments.

So how do we get connected to Jesus?  The answer is in Jesus!  In His life, death and resurrection, God has come to us and made us His people!  All we can do is receive His love and grace with gratitude, worship and service.  And even that is by God's grace and power in us.  Thanks be to God!!