Stay closely connected to Christ, that Solid Vine by becoming a more ardent follower; submit to the
constant pruning of the Father; and you will give Him great glory. God be with you.
In the Gospel reading, Jn 15:1-8, for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Jesus says “I am the true vine, and my
Father is the vine grower” (v.1). We the faithful are the branches. And the Father’s prunes us so that
each one “bears more fruit” (v.2). There are effective lessons for men here as regards God’s ongoing
pruning and the need to stay connected with Christ.
John Chrysostom explains even the best of men require pruning. Every branch that bears good fruit,
must be pruned to bear more. Trimming allows further shoots to proceed from the branch. More
fruit, more pruning. But being clipped hurts; the cuts feel like being abandoned by God. On the
contrary, it means more attention. In His Love the Heavenly Father prunes, cuts, and trims—like He
did to His Only Begotton Son—in order to make us stronger, more dynamic, more productive. As
God wants to see abundant, ongoing growth, the pruning never ceases. A tough fact of the Christian
journey.
And importantly, the branch must remain on the vine for growth and productivity. As Jesus says,
“apart from me you can do nothing” (v.5). But in men there’s an inclination to think productivity is
by sheer effort. Men have a intuitive desire to take the credit. To believe our success is a result of
our own performance. Could it be vanity? Pride?
Why is it so natural to reckon that success rests upon us? Or that God somehow needs our labors to
bring about His Will? Ultimately, bearing fruit is staying connected with the Christ the Vine. St.
Augustine says, “he who thinks that he bears fruit of himself, is not in the vine.” All good work
proceeds from Christ.
Brothers, Jesus asserts “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be
my disciples” (v.8). Stay closely connected to Christ, that Solid Vine, by becoming a more ardent
follower, submit to the constant pruning of the Father, and you will give Him great glory.
More at https://themensacademy.org/
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