10 July 2014 - through the grapevine

10 July 2014 - through the grapevine

God loves us and there is nothing we can do about it.

The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.

Even so, even when we were chasing after our own idols, when we were dead in our sins and enemies of God Jesus died for us (cf. Rom. 5:8).  We not only have no way to earn God's love, no way to pay the debt we owe, but at first we don't even want to do so.  But he keeps on loving us anyway.

My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.

He is the vinedresser.  We are often more trouble than we imagine ourselves to be worth.  God sees us differently.  Even though we are "a wild olive shoot" we are grafted onto the the tree and allowed to "share in the rich root of the olive tree" (cf. Rom 11:17).  We are made to be branches of the vine which is Jesus himself (cf. Joh. 15:1).  We all require pruning to bear fruit.  But we can see that God is committed to this project, to this new Garden he wants to grow.  So with the psalmist we are not afraid to ask:

Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Amazingly, no matter how much he wants this Kingdom to grow, how much he wants this vine to spread and bear fruit, he will not force it.  The proclamation is made:

‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.

But the choice is still left to individuals.  Do we want to be grafted onto the vine or not?

As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words --
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.

It is only with profound dependence on the vine from whom we have life that can go out, with none of our own resources, no gold or silver or copper for our belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick, can propose the invitation to the Kingdom of heaven.  It is great intimacy that can be so exposed.  It is great intimacy that can put oneself out in spite of inevitable rejection. Jesus is able to offer all he has to mankind in spite of the rejection he receives so often because he trusts in his Father.  And if our life comes from the vine are able to offer ourselves fearlessly as well.

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.