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John 15:1-8

Gospel according to John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes to make more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in them bears much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. “Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Reflections

Here is another beautiful metaphor that Jesus uses for his disciples—the metaphor of the vine. This sturdy plant is inseparable from the Mediterranean landscape. It grows well in the full sun, providing the heat required for its sweet fruit to grow and ripen.

However, the vineyard requires hard work. Early in the spring, the old branches must be pruned to allow new shoots to receive more nutrition; the shoots lower down the trunk have to be removed, and the new growth has to be tied to trellis. (1) Throughout the summer, the fruits have to be inspected for any signs of infection or damage and protected. (1) Finally, in the fall, the fallen fruits, leaves, and debris need to be cleaned up to maintain the vines year after year. (1) Thus, the vine grower has plenty of work if he or she wants to take good care of the vineyard.

In this sense, the vine and the grower, just like the shepherd and the sheep in last week’s reflection, relate to the topics of care and belonging. Except, in the case of the vine and the groover, there is a different angle from which Jesus illuminates being a part of and being rooted in Him. Let us recall that, in the example of the shepherd and the sheep, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He is also the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. This is an action, based on a decision to love. In today’s Gospel Jesus talks about the predisposition that will lead to the action to act out of love. --The predisposition rests on being spiritually anchored in the Word of God.

Let’s examine more closely what this “rootedness “entails: Many times, people trace their ancestries. They consult databases, historical records, and conduct interviews with witnesses to understand a part of their past. The process itself can be slow and tedious, but with time and persistence, it may bring to light a piece of truth that was hidden from the eyes, covered by layers and layers of “dust,” sometimes literally, from the past. An archeological site may offer interesting new discoveries and insights into the lives of our ancestors. It may help to uncover something about our origin that we did not know about, shape our understanding of ourselves, or make us ponder what we can do with the new knowledge that is unearthed has come to light. History books, family trees, and traditions are written and formed based on an understanding of the self as being physically descended from one’s ancestors and psychologically shaped by one’s heritage, knowledge, and experiences.

Today, Jesus points to a third dimension of our origin: Our origin in a spiritual sense. Instead of having to trace and wonder about our ancestry, he points to the very source of our existence. Spiritually, he says, we belong to God. We are God’s creation. Through Jesus, we have received a spirit through which God knows each of us by name. Out of love, God endowed us with freedom to choose to respond to our spiritual nature.

Through our spirit, we can respond to the Spirit of God. We have an innate connection with Him that surpasses the finiteness of body and mind. If we choose to remain rooted in the Word, as it is revealed to us, then we can bear spiritual fruits. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

When Jesus says, “Abide in me, as I abide in you,” he invites us to draw strength from the “stem” and the “roots.” --Symbolically, to draw strength from our spiritual closeness to God. This is especially important, says Jesus, because by our own physical strength or intellect, we would not be able to be strong enough to bear good fruit in the world.

The paradox is that there is more that is needed for bearing good fruit than physical strength or intellectual prowess, but to obtain spiritual strength takes a decision. Within that decision lies our position. It is a natural position when we recognize our smallness and insignificance in relation to the source of the spiritual strength emanating from the Almighty, Ever living, and Everlasting God. Nevertheless, it is a position that we have to ponder, and to decide again and again in the face of challenges and tribulations.

Jesus assures us; “Ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” in this spirit. Let us consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit to see what he is referring to:

In, and with, and through the Spirit, God will send forth his power to prepare us and to fortify us to welcome the fruits of the Spirit. They are the signs of an abundant life and the fruits of a life full of dynamic vitality—fruit that will last--just like sweet grapes are the signs of a healthy vine, rooted in a fertile soil, nurtured by the hot sun, and washed by soothing rain, tended with loving care.

Sources:

(1) University of Minnesota Extension (2024). Growing Grapes in the Home Garden. Extension.umn.edu

(2) Global Disciples Canada (2022). The Fruit of the Holy Spirit in Daily Living. globaldisciples.ca