Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 5th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 15:1-6 and 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]
I live in a region of Texas that produces wine grapes! Most folks associate West Texas with cotton and oil, but wine grapes are a big crop out here. This fact makes the image of the vine and the branches all the more "real" to us. Even if we have never encountered this agricultural image in person, the very rarity of such images in the Gospel According to John should alert us, along with the fact that this image occurs rather suddenly in the Farewell Discourse. The last line of Chapter 14 would have us believe that the discourse was over: "Get up, let us go!" But the discourse goes on for three more chapters!!!!
Even a quick read of the image will alert us to the theme of relationship and the verb "remain!" It occurs seven times in today's passage, but it is used elsewhere in this gospel as well. The force of "remain" is underlined by Jesus' blunt statement, "Without me you can do nothing." At the same time, the image includes a fact of wine grape agriculture (viticulture): pruning!! Even if we branches "remain" on the vine, we can expect some "pruning" to keep us bearing fruit from season to season. This always suggests to me the necessity of intentional discipline in keeping our relationship to Jesus strong, enduring and persevering.
In this time of pandemic, the importance of "remaining" in Jesus so that he will remain in us can be clearer than ever. Just as our relationship to our loved ones can get us through very dark times because they "remain" in us, so too our relationship to Jesus enables us to bear with this troubled time and put up with the challenges and sorrows. AMEN