By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
“ I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. v2Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. v3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. v4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. v5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. v6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. v7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – John 15:1-7
The gospel lesson appointed this sixth Sunday of Easter is the last of the “I am” sayings of Jesus with the statement ‘I am the true vine.’ In this parable he wants to illustrate how his followers will gain their strength and growth from him. Jesus uses very rich with colorful and strong images by which he could introduce his ministry to his listeners. Today, these images still come across strongly no matter whom it came across with. Last Sunday we read from the same gospel according to Saint John of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (JTWTTTL, remember?). These imageries used by Jesus mean that he is the ultimate means by which anybody can have access to God the Father and have abundant life that God alone can give. Also, we are assured that as long as we believe in Jesus and the Father – whatever trouble befalls our way, we can overcome. Jesus said, ‘Let not your heart be troubled.’ He is telling us in our gospel today and is affirming the truth that as long as we abide in him, he will never fail us. If we abide in God, life will have more meaning and fruitful.
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We live in a broken and chaotic world full of anxiety and uncertainties. We heard of wars and conflicts caused not only by political reasons but of ideologies and faith persuasion or religious beliefs. Terrorism, crime, and poverty permeate societies all over the world. Now we are in the midst of the incomparable malady called the COVID-19 pandemic not to mention the periodic natural disasters that come our way annually. To the faint-hearted it seems the future is bleak and hopeless. But to the faithful believer this is what we are called to refute. And we declare, “Habang buhay, may pag-asa…” Such hope can only be if we maintain our connectivity with the ultimate source – God the Almighty, loving and merciful.
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‘I am the true vine’. In this parable or allegory, Jesus describes himself as the “true vine” and those who have become his disciples as “the branches.” By remaining attached to him as the Source of life, they produce fruit. God is the gardener who takes care of the branches in order that they may bear fruit. God expect all of us to bear fruit.
Every branch. Jesus speaks of two categories of branches: fruitless and fruitful. The branches that cease to bear fruit are those who no longer have the life in them that comes from the enduring faith in and love for Christ. These “branches” the Father cuts off, i.e., separates them from the vital union with Christ. When they stop remaining in Christ, God then judges and rejects them. The branches that bear fruit are those who have life in them because of their enduring faith in and love for Christ. These “branches” the Father prunes so that they will become more fruitful. That is, he removes from their lives anything that diverts or hinders the vital life flow of Christ into them. The fruit is the quality of Christian character that brings glory to God through life and witness.
Remain in me. After a person believes in Christ and is forgiven, he or she receives eternal life and the power to remain in Christ. Given that power, the believer must then accept that responsibility in salvation and remain in Christ. The Greek word meno means to remain, continue, abide or live. Just as the branch has life only as long as the life of the vine flows into it, so believers have Christ’s life only as long as Christ’s life flows into them their remaining in Christ. The conditions by which we remain in Christ are: (1) keeping God’s Word continually in our hearts and minds and making it the guide for our actions. (2) maintaining the habit of constant intimate communion with Christ in order to draw strength from him. (3) obeying his commands, remaining in his love, and loving each other. (4) keeping our lives clean through the Word, resisting all sin and yielding to the Spirit’s direction.
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The parable of the vine and branches makes it unmistakably clear that Christ did not believe “once in the vine, always in the vine.” Rather, in this parable Jesus gave his disciples a solemn but loving warning that it is indeed possible for true believers to ultimately abandon faith, turn their backs on Jesus, fail to remain in him, and thus to be thrown into the everlasting fire of hell.
We have here the foundational principle governing the saving relationship of Christ and the believer, namely, that it is never a static relationship based solely on a past decision or experience. Rather, it is a progressive relationship as Christ lives in the believer and shares with him or her his divine life. Three important truths are taught in this parable: (a) the responsibility of remaining in Christ is placed upon the disciples. This is our response to God’s prior gift of divine life and power given at conversion. (b) Remaining in Christ results in Jesus’ continued indwelling, the fruitfulness of the disciple, success in prayer and fullness of joy. (c) The consequences of failure to remain in Christ are fruitlessness, removal from Christ and destruction.
(v.7) The secret of answered prayer is remaining in Christ. The closer we live to Christ through meditation on and study of Scripture, the more our prayers will be in line with the nature and words of Christ, and thus the more effectual our prayers will be. (Full Life Study Bible, NIV. 1990)
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It is not hard to see what Jesus is saying. As a church we are the vehicle, the arms, the branches by which the world is fed and cared for and by which Christ is made known especially in this time of need because of the pandemic. We together make up what are visible and effective witnesses about Christ in the world. Christ is the whole vine, the roots, trunk, branches, and the leaves. We are the branches. But how can we be branches in accordance to Jesus’ way? Do we allow ourselves to be shaped, trained, sometimes pruned, sometimes stretched to a new position? These decisions make all the differences, both for us and whatever the world knows the goodness of Christ, whether there is fruit to bear. The mature vine doesn’t just have one or two good branches; it has many, and you can hardly distinguish them from one another. Likened to a choir, you don’t want one or two voices to stand out; the key is the blending. So, we in the church are called to be good branches connected to the true vine and bear fruit.
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What fruit must we bear? One variety is our consistent defense for the truth, of righteousness and peace. Good deeds and words for others let us recall what purpose this vine is supposed to have. We allow ourselves to be shaped for the work of bearing fruit. Jesus said, “If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered – thrown into the fire, and they are burned. I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (John 15:6-7).” How is your life my friend? Are you connected with the Vine, Jesus Christ our Lord? You may have everything: money, power or the authority – but if you are not connected with God – you are nothing and soon you will wither away.
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A little boy was riding his bike furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally, a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. The cop asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, “Because my mom said that I’m not allowed to cross the street.”
The point is clear – obedience will keep you close from those you love. If we are obedient to God, we shall be connected with God. My friends, do not always look for what it is God is going to do to you life. Think about what God has already done. Jesus calls on us to abide in him and his teaching in order that we may bear fruit in our work and ministry. If we do not abide in him, our work, our effort, our lives will be fruitless.
Let us pray.
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (ECP-BCP, Collect for Sixth Sunday of Easter, p129)**
