The gospel of today is a metaphor. Jesus, aware of his departure from his disciples, uses the metaphor of the vine and its branches to demonstrate the type of relationship that should exist between him and his disciples. The symbol of the vine is what is familiar to his disciples because there were grapevines everywhere. He used the metaphor of the vine and the branches to encourage his disciples and followers not to depart from him. He tasked them to remain in him.
The Vitality of Life For the Branches
The metaphor of Jesus of the vine depicts the fact that the branches of the vine completely depend on the vine for their sustenance. The vine is the source of their life. Without the vine, there would be no branches and they would not have life. If the branches are to live and bear fruit, they must necessarily and completely depend on the vine for their nourishment, support, strength, maintenance, and vitality. That implies that without Jesus in our lives, we are nothing. There is nothing we can achieve without him. This is because Jesus, according to the Sacred Scripture, is ‘the Alpha and the Omega,’ ‘the beginning and the end’; ‘the first and the last’ (Rev 22:13). Jesus expressed the vital importance and unity between the vine and the branches when he says: I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5).
The Duty of the Vinedresser
Vines are maintained and looked after, otherwise they would not bear rich fruit and an abundant harvest. One of the things that helps the vine in bearing more and better fruit is pruning. Jesus attests to the fact that his father is the vinedresser who has the duty of looking after the vineyard. He cuts the branches that bear no fruit to create more space for the bearing ones. Hence, he says ‘every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes to make it even bear more’ (John 15:2).
And according to Jesus, we are pruned already by the very words that he has spoken to us. The words of eternal life; the words of encouragement to remain in him.
The Diseases that can Detach a Branch
Jesus is aware of the challenges we, the branches of the vine, can face as his followers. He knows the weaknesses and the strength of the branches. That is part of the reason he had adopted the metaphor of the vine. It’s to keep his followers and branches united to himself. He emphasized the fact of remaining in him and him in us because he does not want to lose anyone.
He knows that anything can happen at any time especially when a branch or a follower is affected by a disease. The diseases can come in the form of competition among the branches. This can be due to the influence of productivity in the form of power, fame, possession, money, and pride among disciples.
Therefore, any disciple who wants to be united with Christ must shun these vices and diseases. They have ruined some Disciples of Christ, like Judas Iscariot. He was affected by the disease of funds. It detached him away from his master and prompted him to betray him. The diseases have been the downfall of many servants of God, missionaries, and disciples of Christ. It has also been the downfall of many world leaders and public servants.
Once a disciple – a branch of Christ – begins to glory in any of these vices, he or she is most likely to break away from the vine who is Christ himself. We must, therefore, guide against these vices that can detach us from the true vine. We can only bear fruit if we remain part of him. And he has assured us that if we remain in him and his words remain in us, we shall not lack as we shall get whatever we ask of him.
Peace be with you!
Ꭺw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking
the time and actual effoгt to make ɑ great article… but what can I say…
I put things off a whole lot and neveｒ seem to get anything done.