My dear friends, the gospel today which presents a powerful image of Christ as the vine is very familiar to us. St. John used the image that we are familiar with so as to teach us about the mutual life and intimacy Jesus shares with us, as it exists between the vine and the branches. Through the analogy of the vine and the branches, he is inviting us to be united with him.
Vine, Branches, Vinedresser
Jesus calls himself the vine and his Father as the vinedresser. He designates humanity as his branches. These three figures –the vine, the vinedresser, and the branches are intertwined with each other. They have a close relationship. And that’s exactly the type of relationship Jesus wants us to share with Him. He is the life-wire of the vine while we are the branches that depend on him for survival. In fact, without Him, we can do really nothing (John 15: 5); for ‘in him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28).
God the Father is the vinedresser who looks after us in Christ. He is always happy to see us not only bear fruits, but good fruits in abundance that will last. He is ever ready to support anyone who is disposed to bear fruit as God prunes every branch of the vine that does bear fruit to make it bear even more (cf John 15: 6).
God guides humanity with His words. He cautiously speaks to us through the Scriptures. And in the conscience of our hearts whenever we face challenges and temptations. Hence, the Bible says: ‘you are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you’ (John 15:7).
Nevertheless, the vinedresser is ever ready to remove any branch that does not bear fruit. He gathers them and throws them into the fire to be burnt, which is a great sign of the loss of intimacy they share with the vine. That is why humanity must work hard not to allow this loss of intimacy to happen. It will be to the glory of the Father, the vinedresser, if we remain in Christ and bear fruit.
Bearing Fruit
God’s purpose of creating humanity is for men and women to know him, love him, serve him in this world and be with him in the life to come. That is to say that the very core of human existence is to be in constant relationship with God. He wants us to be really connected with him to bear fruit. Otherwise we lose our attachment and are cut off from Him. But if we remain in His friendship, maintain it, we lose nothing.
Furthermore, God cares for us when we are attached to him. He looks after us through his word and sacraments for our spiritual nourishments and other needs of life. Hence, He calls on us to make our home in Him as He makes his in us. Unequivocally, He says: ‘whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty’ (John 15: 51) and the fruits include that of ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Eph. 5:22-23). But those cut off from Him wither and die away.
Jesus wants us to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. We should remain firmly attached to Him as a branch is attached to the vine. So, when He says ‘abide with me and I in you’, He is inviting us to mutual friendship. A relationship with Him. Let us not fail to make use of the opportunity He offers us with the support of His grace. Amen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Vine Fr Cyriacus. My prayer is to grow in friendship with Christ in order to bear the fruits of the Spirit – we need His help to do that, especially when it is difficult to pray. May we trust God to work in us, even when we do not feel fruitful!