Word to the Wise
Sunday, April 29, 2018 - 5th Sunday of Easter - B
[Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8]"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." [John]
The Gospel According to John has very few parables of the kind we are accustomed to in the other three gospels. Last Sunday, we encountered the parable of the Good Shepherd. Today we have the parable of the Vine and Branches. This image seems to interrupt the stream of consciousness flow of the Farewell Discourse, but we know already to expect a collage of thoughts in this discourse.
Many years ago I made my first visit to the Napa valley in California that is so famous for its vineyards and the wine that comes from them. It was in November, not long after the harvest and the very air of the countryside smelled of grapes! I was with a friend and we stopped at one of the big wineries. The vineyards were growing quite near the winery so I walked over to take a picture and experienced one of those moments when a scripture passage came to life in me. The connection between the vine and the branches was truly vivid. Life flowed from root to trunk to branch to fruit. I also learned that in order for this to happen and result in good fruit, the vines had to be pruned back each year. All of this goes into that glass of wine that I enjoy.
The word that Jesus uses to describe the relationship between vine and branches is "remain." This suggests to us a steady and profound presence between vine and branches of the kind that faith can create. We may experience it in friendship when we realize that even if we live miles and miles from close friends, they are still in our life and give life. Jesus also speaks of the pruning as the acceptance of his word. This, for some, can be the "leap of faith" that demands an ultimate trust. We know that can be difficult in human relationships and in the case of faith, it can challenge us even more profoundly. Is there anyone we know in whom we would trust with our lives? If we are to be part of the vine of faith and receive life from Jesus, we have to acknowledge that we can do nothing fruitful without his life in us. The last of Jesus' words in today's gospel passage say it all: By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. AMEN