Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - 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 every one 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 central challenge of the Gospel According to John is to believe in Jesus as the one whom God has sent. That belief is illustrated in the image of the shepherd and sheep in chapter 10, and in the image of the vine and branches from the Last Supper discourse in chapter 14 - today's gospel scripture. Faith in Jesus is more than an intellectual assent to an abstract truth or recital of a creed. It challenges us to a relationship that has the characteristics of a deep friendship. An important word in the image of the vine and branches is "remain." We carry our close friends with us in mind, heart and prayer wherever we go.
Good friendship requires some discipline of time, communication and physical/mental effort! Jesus speaks of "pruning" that is part of good viticulture. Friends who care may have to confront us when our attitudes and behavior may be destructive not just of the friendship but of our own selves. The dead branches must be pruned so that the vine can produce new branches for fruit-bearing. Long lasting friendship makes demands, but the fruit is testimony to the value of the demands.
The title of a rather sweet old hymn, What a friend we have in Jesus! expresses it well. An awareness of the importance of this faith relationship is central to our Christian identity. AMEN