Orlagh in the cityJohn 15:1-8
John 15:1 Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
INITIAL OBSERVATIONS
Like all the speeches in this Gospel, this is a meditation on the presence of the Risen Lord to believers, written after the resurrection and thus not really a report of Jesus’ actual words. Nevertheless, it is a meditation on images Jesus did himself use, such as the parable of the vineyard, with echoes of other passages from the Old Testament. This passage indeed sounds a bit like a parable but is really a symbolic allegory, wherein each element can be “decoded” for meaning. This reflection is found in the Farewell Discourse of the Fourth Gospel and is best understood within that special context.
The common situation in farewell speeches is that of a prominent person who gathers his followers (children, disciples, or the entire nation of Israel) just before his death or departure to give them final instructions which will help them after he is gone.
Thought for the day
In the Bible, things from everyday life are used to speak of God. Two good examples would be those staples of the Mediterranean, the olive and the vine. In particular, the vine lends itself to metaphorical reference. It takes great tending; at the same time, it is obvious that even the furthest tendril “must with the vine be one.” By staying connected and with careful pruning, the fruit itself is “pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). No need to mention the wine!
KIERAN O’MAHONY OSA—www.tarsus.ie
Like all the speeches in this Gospel, this is a meditation on the presence of the Risen Lord to believers, written after the resurrection and thus not really a report of Jesus’ actual words. Nevertheless, it is a meditation on images Jesus did himself use, such as the parable of the vineyard, with echoes of other passages from the Old Testament. This passage indeed sounds a bit like a parable but is really a symbolic allegory, wherein each element can be “decoded” for meaning. This reflection is found in the Farewell Discourse of the Fourth Gospel and is best understood within that special context.
The common situation in farewell speeches is that of a prominent person who gathers his followers (children, disciples, or the entire nation of Israel) just before his death or departure to give them final instructions which will help them after he is gone.
Thought for the day
In the Bible, things from everyday life are used to speak of God. Two good examples would be those staples of the Mediterranean, the olive and the vine. In particular, the vine lends itself to metaphorical reference. It takes great tending; at the same time, it is obvious that even the furthest tendril “must with the vine be one.” By staying connected and with careful pruning, the fruit itself is “pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). No need to mention the wine!
KIERAN O’MAHONY OSA—www.tarsus.ie
This simile is simple and highly meaningful. Jesus is the true vine, full of life; the disciples are the branches that live off the sap that reaches them from Jesus. The Father is the gardener who personally takes care of the vineyard so that it gives abundant fruit. The only important thing is that his project for a more human and happy world for all should become a reality.
The simile highlights the problem. There are dry branches through which the sap of Jesus does not flow, disciples who yield no fruit because the Spirit of the risen Lord does not flow through their veins, Christian communities that languish disconnected from him. So he makes a very strong statement: “a branch cannot bear fruit if it does not abide in the vine”; the lives of the disciples will be sterile if they do not abide in Jesus. His words are unqualified: “Apart from me you can do nothing”. Are not these words exposing the real root of our crisis in our Christianity? Do they not bare the flaw in the foundation that splits it open like no other?
Being a Christian today requires a vital experience of Jesus Christ, an inner knowledge of his person, and a passion for his project to an extent that was not required of a practicing member in a society that was dominated by Christianity. If we do not learn to live in close and intense contact with Jesus, the decline in our Christianity can become a terminal sickness.
JOSÉ A PAGOLA—Following in the Footsteps of Jesus
The simile highlights the problem. There are dry branches through which the sap of Jesus does not flow, disciples who yield no fruit because the Spirit of the risen Lord does not flow through their veins, Christian communities that languish disconnected from him. So he makes a very strong statement: “a branch cannot bear fruit if it does not abide in the vine”; the lives of the disciples will be sterile if they do not abide in Jesus. His words are unqualified: “Apart from me you can do nothing”. Are not these words exposing the real root of our crisis in our Christianity? Do they not bare the flaw in the foundation that splits it open like no other?
Being a Christian today requires a vital experience of Jesus Christ, an inner knowledge of his person, and a passion for his project to an extent that was not required of a practicing member in a society that was dominated by Christianity. If we do not learn to live in close and intense contact with Jesus, the decline in our Christianity can become a terminal sickness.
JOSÉ A PAGOLA—Following in the Footsteps of Jesus
Jesus often uses images from the natural world to teach us something about God. The grapevine image, a common biblical image of God’s relationship with God’s people, shows us there is no separation between the human and the divine. The image reminds us that we belong to each other, the Divine Creator, the Risen Christ, each of us dependent on the other so that the fullness of Divine love can bear fruit.
We flow into God - and God into us - because it is the nature of love to flow. And so we give e ourselves to one another in this fashion, the vine gives life and coherence to the branch while the branch makes visible what the vine is. (Cynthia Bourgeault)
Jesus says that his followers are pruned by his Word, What is your experience of allowing God’s Word to shape your life, to speak to your experience, to shape who you are becoming?
TRÍONA DOHERTY & JANE MELLETT - Go Deeper
We flow into God - and God into us - because it is the nature of love to flow. And so we give e ourselves to one another in this fashion, the vine gives life and coherence to the branch while the branch makes visible what the vine is. (Cynthia Bourgeault)
Jesus says that his followers are pruned by his Word, What is your experience of allowing God’s Word to shape your life, to speak to your experience, to shape who you are becoming?
TRÍONA DOHERTY & JANE MELLETT - Go Deeper
Thus Sunday in our reading from John there is a change in symbolism from shepherding to that of the vine. This too is an image that derives from the Old Testament where the prophets speak of the chosen people as God’s vine that he tends with love in the hope of it producing choice fruit. The evangelist now takes that same idea and revolutionises it by showing us that Jesus is the true vine and the disciples are the branches, in other words they cannot and do not exist apart from him. Two important aspects of the believer’s relationship with Jesus emerge from this: intimacy and fruitfulness.
We are in complete union with him, that is, we remain or abide in him and draw life from him.
Since we draw life from him then we will bear fruit and that means that we cannot claim to be his disciples and live only for ourselves.
SEAN GOAN—Let the Reader Understand, Year B
We are in complete union with him, that is, we remain or abide in him and draw life from him.
Since we draw life from him then we will bear fruit and that means that we cannot claim to be his disciples and live only for ourselves.
SEAN GOAN—Let the Reader Understand, Year B
Textual comments
Verse 1. The Father is the vine dresser. This is telling us something very important about Jesus' mission in the world. It is reminding us of how he saw himself and of his deep relationship with his Father in heaven.
Verses 2 and 3. Christians then are branches of the "true vine". When a branch bears no fruit, the reason is clear - it is not linked to the vine.
Verse 3. The interpretation then changes. It asks the question, "What is the pruning instrument?" The answer is simply that it is the actual words of the great Jesus - "It is by means of the word I have spoken to you”. Jesus' words then are not mere words, they are pruning instruments; they can change our behaviour and can make important differences happen in how we deal with one another. Jesus then makes a further distinction. "Make your home with me as I make mine in you". For ordinary people, "being in the vine" merely means making a choice, then letting it influence how we deal with others.
Verses 4 and verse 5. The parable takes a new turn. Though linked to the old we get a new development. No branch of the vine can bear fruit all by itself, it must remain part of the vine. The branches too cannot bear fruit unless they remain linked with him, and are settled with him.
Verse 6. Those who do not remain in me are like branches which have been thrown away. They wither and eventually die.
Verse 7. This is what happens when a branch remains attached to the vine and bears fruit from it: "You will ask for what you will and you will get it." The person of Christ has a special relationship with the Father in heaven, a relationship based on their intimacy with Jesus.
Verse 8. Conclusion to the passage. This is what being a disciple is all about - "It is to the glory of God that you should bear much fruit." There is a relationship of great love between Jesus' disciples and the Father. It is based entirely on the intimacy between them.
MICHEL DE VERTEUIL—Lectio Divina on the Sunday Gospels, Year B
Verse 1. The Father is the vine dresser. This is telling us something very important about Jesus' mission in the world. It is reminding us of how he saw himself and of his deep relationship with his Father in heaven.
Verses 2 and 3. Christians then are branches of the "true vine". When a branch bears no fruit, the reason is clear - it is not linked to the vine.
Verse 3. The interpretation then changes. It asks the question, "What is the pruning instrument?" The answer is simply that it is the actual words of the great Jesus - "It is by means of the word I have spoken to you”. Jesus' words then are not mere words, they are pruning instruments; they can change our behaviour and can make important differences happen in how we deal with one another. Jesus then makes a further distinction. "Make your home with me as I make mine in you". For ordinary people, "being in the vine" merely means making a choice, then letting it influence how we deal with others.
Verses 4 and verse 5. The parable takes a new turn. Though linked to the old we get a new development. No branch of the vine can bear fruit all by itself, it must remain part of the vine. The branches too cannot bear fruit unless they remain linked with him, and are settled with him.
Verse 6. Those who do not remain in me are like branches which have been thrown away. They wither and eventually die.
Verse 7. This is what happens when a branch remains attached to the vine and bears fruit from it: "You will ask for what you will and you will get it." The person of Christ has a special relationship with the Father in heaven, a relationship based on their intimacy with Jesus.
Verse 8. Conclusion to the passage. This is what being a disciple is all about - "It is to the glory of God that you should bear much fruit." There is a relationship of great love between Jesus' disciples and the Father. It is based entirely on the intimacy between them.
MICHEL DE VERTEUIL—Lectio Divina on the Sunday Gospels, Year B
POINTERS FOR PRAYER
JOHN BYRNE OSA—Intercom
- In a relationship, connectedness is important. Relationships cannot be taken for granted and need time and care to be life-giving. What does your experience tell you of the truth of this in your relationships: with God, with your friends, with your family, with communities or groups to which you belong?
- Just as a vine is pruned in order to be fruitful, so we will be pruned when we accept the give and take of healthy relationships. When have you found that a relationship grew when you were able to consider the needs of the other as well as your own?
- In THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL Pope Francis wrote “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ.” He goes on to suggest that when individuals, or groups, focus on Jesus there is an increase of energy and vitality. Have you seen this happen?
- The parable also reminds us that we are not the source of our own life. It is a gift from God, from our parents, and from all who have nourished us. Give thanks for those who have been a source of life for you.
JOHN BYRNE OSA—Intercom
