Pruned for Living

It is always a problem when we get stuck on one image in a passage from scripture without paying attention to how it fits into the whole sweep of that passage.

The easy one today would be for us to hear “abide in God” more than a half-dozen times in the Second Lesson and Gospel readings as a nice, safe, comfortable and comforting phrase, and not go any farther.

We hear it as a static thing, this relationship with Jesus; safe in the arms of the Lord, where we don't have to think or do anything; just be.

Is that really what the Lord had in mind?

It is a very true to life image that Jesus uses here.

We can easily imagine him walking along the road and passing a vineyard and turning to his followers, and announcing that his relationship with them was like the relationship of the branches to the vine they were just passing.

Depending upon the season, it might be the time of vigorous growth,

the time of maturing fruit and thinning,

the time of harvest,

the time of rest, or

the time of examination and pruning.

Each one of those times of the year can contribute to the proper understanding of the illustration,

but let's just stick to the one to which Jesus calls particular attention: pruning.

To “abide in the vine” means that there is a living connection with it.

The graft was made at Holy Baptism, and each one of us is inserted into the vine which is Christ.

And since then, as part of the feeding of that connection, the very body and blood of Christ is incorporated in us in the Holy Communion.

Another part of the “abiding in the vine” means that we take the time to allow God's Word to enter our hearts and minds through our eyes and ears, too.

That takes time and thought, and effort.

When that “abiding” is good and strong, one kind of pruning is needed;

when that “abiding” is weak or non-existent, then a different kind of pruning happens.

The dead branch is pruned off and burned according the the Gospel story, apparently before it infects other branches.

That's the bad news.

But where there is at least a little life, then there is the other kind of pruning, the kind that trims off the bad spots, that exposes the branch to the most favorable light, and brings it into shape with the rest of the vine.

So in our life in the church, we need to be engaged in this second kind of pruning,

when we listen carefully to God's Word and allow that Word to clear away the broken areas, the storm-damaged areas of our lives as individuals and as a congregation, so that new life can occur.

We need to be clear that “Bear fruit” is the imperative, not a mere suggestion.

I'm wondering if we have been treating that imperative as a check-list:

...got the grand-kids to SCS 2x/month

...carried in 6 boxes of stuff for the bazaar

...wrote a check for Family Promise, etc.

“Bearing fruit” is more complex than just doing those things, good though they be.

Our first fruit is the praise of God in worship.

And it is our final fruit as well.

In between our first and final fruits, the sweetest cluster of fruit should be those persons whom we have brought to the faith or encouraged in the faith, or renewed in the faith.

Then there are the side clusters of the good things done, just because our neighbors of all descriptions need the assistance.

Unfortunately, for some persons the small side clusters of helpful deeds are the only clusters they grow, and they never get around to the main sweet harvest of bringing other persons to faith in Christ Jesus.

We need to be doing much better in our life as branches of the vine which is Christ.

Today is the day for the annual congregation assembly.

The booklet of reports was made available last week so that all could have a chance to look it over and correct any errors so that the one we put in the file will have names spelled correctly and decimal points in the right places.

Can it be a pruning day also, where we say that was then, this is now;

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” to quote the Psalmist...

And indeed rejoice that the Lord does give us a fresh start this day, this new year, to abide in him and to bear fruit.

Today is also a day when we are celebrating a 50^th wedding anniversary milestone event with two couples and their families.

May it be a day of renewal for them as well!

Not every single moment in 50 years has been triumphant joy: there has been some broken branches as well as good growth along the way.

But to “abide in the vine” means that these couples of long experience

still need and still receive that body and blood of Christ,

still maintain the connections of community and need to continue reflection on the scriptures...

for themselves, for the church, for their families, and for the whole body of Christ.

May they continue in that work, in the name of Christ!

And then finally, our hymn today [#875, Fruitful Trees, the Spirit's Sowing] understands “abiding in God” by way of naming the fruit of the Spirit, the nine attitudes that form the skin of every fruit we bear, everything we say and do as branches of the vine as we bump up against anyone else:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [Galatians 5:22]

So “abide in me” is quite a lively image that Jesus uses.

It calls us to praise; it calls us to work;

it reminds us of the discomfort of necessary pruning;

but it also reminds us of the constancy of the Spirit's presence with us,

so that we can make bold to say...

Christ is risen. HE IS RISEN INDEED. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.