John 15:1-8 - The Vine and the Branches (5th Sunday After Easter - May 3, 2015)

Gospel:

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Gospel Trivia:

The vine is often used in Scripture to refer to the people of Israel, initially referred to as God's chosen people but have been unfaithful to Yahweh as described in the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 2:21: I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock.  How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

As well as by Jesus himself in the New Testament through the parable of the idle workers who had to be invited by Jesus to work in the vineyard.  (Matthew 20:1-8)

Jesus now declares himself as the true vine, i.e. no longer the false vine which was Israel.  The branches are those who follow him.  

Those who bear fruit are those who live out Jesus' life and teachings.  Pruning is the inevitable trials that a disciple goes through, but which further strengthens and increases the fruits of their discipleship.  One's fruitfulness depends on the closeness of the relationship between the branch and Jesus, the true vine.

How will you measure the fruitfulness of your discipleship?  How strong is your relationship with the true vine?

Reference:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), 204-206.