17 May 2017 - feeling vine

Today's Readings 

A vineyard is a yard of vines. It seems so obvious in retrospect.

 We are called to remain in Jesus, to abide in him. He calls us to have a deep internal union with him so profound that we receive life from him and bear fruit in our lives.

"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 everyone 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.

This is how the People of God is meant to be united. There used to be external signs that marked the People of God as separate from everyone else. Now that the Gentiles are called into union with God these older signs no longer have the same importance or necessity.

But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."

The old practices give way to Sacraments, signs that effect what the symbolize. Baptism truly gives us new life in Jesus Christ. In it we are born again in him and so united to all others who live in him. The old practices were necessary at the time. The people did not have true life that would allow them to bear fruit so they had to be kept separate and set apart in order to keep them safe from idolatry and impurity.

We, however, have true life in Christ. This life in us is stronger than the threat and temptation of the world if we choose to abide in Jesus.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.

What this means is that we don't need to close in on ourselves and hide from a world which is, by all accounts, pretty messed up. We don't need to avoid it for fear of being tainted. We don't need to separate ourselves from others much less act superior to them. Instead, we should invite them all to receive this same life that Jesus gives to us. It is the only thing we have to give that truly matters because nothing else lasts forever.

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.

The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit and become his disciples. Because of this, he does whatever we ask when we ask from hearts that abides in Jesus. Such hearts can only ask for what brings him glory and he is delighted to answer.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.