Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday - 28th April 2024

 

​​Whereas the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, contain parables that often begin like this, “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to….”, John‘s Gospel is not graced in the same way with parables. In John. we find a simpler, more direct way of saying things, as in today’s Gospel passage, (Jn 15: 1-8), where Jesus begins by saying, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.” This is a metaphor, the simple way in which Jesus says complex and complicated things. He doesn’t say I am like a vine, but I am the true vine. This is yet another one of the famous I AM sayings in John. Jesus talks of his relationship with the Father and with his disciples or followers. Jesus is the vine, while the Father’s task is to tend the vine, cutting off branches that bear no fruit and pruning those that do. Either way, for the vine and for the branches, it is a painful process. You could say that Christ’s Passion and Death are that cutting away and pruning. If we, as the branches, are to bear much fruit, then we must accept a regular pruning, and if we bear no fruit, then we should expect to be cut away. However, we will be given chance after chance. Hence the importance of what he says next. “Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.” Abide in me, remain in me, stay with me, be with me always, be united to me. As a branch alone cannot survive without the vine, neither can we have life and bear fruit if we are not one with Jesus. Just as he and the Father are one, so must we be one with him. This is more than a plea for unity, it’s a statement of what must be, if God’s will is to be fulfilled.

 

​​To hammer home his point, Jesus continues by saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.” Jesus’ words are kind and inviting. He promises us an abundance of fruit, if we remain with him and abide in him. However, he never beats around the bush. The alternative is grim indeed and, sadly, many choose it. He is telling us straight: either you are with me or you can’t be part of me, you’re against me, but the choice is yours. You choose your own fate. He ends on a positive note, because both he and the Father want us to be true disciples and to bear much fruit. He says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.” First of all, we are given the assurance that whatever we ask for in prayer will be given us, provided we abide in Jesus and keep his commandments, thereby syntonising with the will of God. Secondly, by the fruits we bear, we will give glory to God and become more truly Christ’s disciples. This is more than we can understand or believe. Not even in our wildest dreams could we believe this to be true, and yet they are the words of Jesus spoken at the Last Supper, that most solemn moment of his life here on earth with his disciples. If we take these words of Jesus to heart and live by them, then God will be with us always, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.