Most likely, he intended us to picture a grape vine, for production and consumption of wine was common in that culture. Therefore, most of Jesus' listeners would likely have recognized the necessity of removing and burning dead branches, and cleaning and pruning the good branches to encourage new growth. Additionally, the scriptural image of Israel as a vine certainly remained in the memory of the community.

So again we see Jesus speaking with people at their level, in terms they can grasp and understand. How may we grasp and understand it today, nearly two thousand years later?

First of all, from what vine do we now draw our life? What in our lives inspires us to action, to doing something? It could be our occupation that provides the fruitful harvest that sustains us. Some people get much pleasure from their work, and often closely identify themselves with it. Other interests such as our hobbies or diversions, or volunteerism or service to others can inspire us to action, and feed us in many ways. For some of us, it is our family or our relationships that connect us to the vine that nourishes us and bears fruit in our lives. In them we experience, as well as give, the sustaining power to overcome ill weather or infestations.

What in our lives gives us life? The answer to this question tells us much about ourselves. Secondly, I submit that unless we have something that inspires us or gives us life, something that we look forward to doing for personal or another's benefit (or both), we cease to grow as persons.

For some of us, this may mean giving of our time or talents to someone or to an organization; for others, it may actually mean learning how to receive a loving action or gift from someone, thereby giving to them the opportunity to grow by what they do. Learning how to receive sometimes represents a great challenge, for in receiving one usually risks vulnerability and openness, and often we're uncomfortable with those feelings.

Clearly, Jesus in John intends for us to see himself as the true vine that gives us life in this world. This he says quite plainly: "I am the vine, you are the branches." What then do we make of the pruning?

We often hear this text used by some preachers to explain how the difficult times and events in our life represent the pruning that God does to help us bear more fruit. While that approach may work for some people, I don't find it particularly helpful. Let me explain why I say that, and please remember, this is how I see it, from where I stand today.

Why do we prune a vine, a shrub or a tree? Generally, to improve its beauty, to direct its growth, to increase its fruit bearing capacity. Ninety five percent of the time pruning involves cutting away undesired growth-but growth, nonetheless.

Plainly put, pruning is a deliberate cutting away of distracting growth. Left to its own devices, undisciplined growth can make for a very confused and overgrown plant or tree. Sometimes, wind and storm, lightning or infestation can radically alter a tree or shrub or vine, and possibly destroy it.

In his analogy, the fruit that Jesus has in mind for us is love-his own love for us and our love for one another. Jesus wants us to abide in his love, as a branch abides in the vine; and he promises that if we keep his commandments, we will abide in his love.

Had we continued to read in John's gospel, in just a few lines we would have heard the immortal words-'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

So, if we see love as the fruit of our connection to Jesus, the vine, then tough and difficult times in life do not represent pruning, but rather wind, and tempest and infestation-the natural elements and events of which all life is filled.

The deliberate cutting away of distractions to desired growth is pruning.

Pruning improves the flow of life giving sustenance between the vine and the branches, the stem and the leaves, the tree and the limbs (between Jesus and us).

Ultimately, pruning is a loving act, done with care and concern for the future health and growth of the organism. And healthy plants can better withstand the natural elements and events of life better than unhealthy plants.

Not only should we draw this analogy between ourselves and Jesus personally, with him as the vine that gives us life, but we especially need to draw the connection between Jesus as the vine and the church as the branches, bearing the fruit of love in the world.

We know that this message is intended by John for the church as Christ's body in the world because of the clues left for us in the Greek text. Today in the Gospel, Jesus is speaking to his disciples gathered together. The "you's" that we see in the text are actually plural you's, not singular you's.

Here's a fine example of where the scriptures would be better served by a good dose of that beautiful Southern word "y'all." (Growing up in the North we had "youn's" derived from "you ones," but it's not nearly as gentle or graceful as "y'all.") Sometime when you have time read those last two sentences in today's Gospel, substituting "y'all" for "you" and the meaning John intended will come through clearly.

It is the mission of Christ's church to bear the fruit of loving actions in the world, to nourish and strengthen those in any need or distress. And as Mother Teresa has said, "The fruit of love is service."

Therefore, both personally and corporately, with the guidance and wisdom of the Spirit we must prayerfully prune away anything that might distract us from sharing Christ's love by serving others; we must prayerfully prune away anything that might distract us from growing into our vision and mission of ministry. The present and future health of the church requires it, the fruit of the branches will be enriched by it, and the hungry needs of the world, both physical and spiritual, will be fed by it.

Even nearly two thousand years later, that much has remained the same.

The Rev'd Timothy M. Dombek
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH
301 Piney Mountain Road
Greenville, SC 29609-3035
(864) 244-6358
stjamesrector@mindspring.com

Copyright © 2002 Timothy M. Dombek All Rights Reserved.