Jesus said to his disciples: “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 every one 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. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Reflection
As branches attached to the vine
The vine is a figure used in the Gospel. While the Cana story deals with the fruit of the vine (wine) that symbolizes the joy of the feast, Jesus speaks of the image of the vine itself. In the Old Testament, the vine represents Israel (cf Ps 80:9-14), brought out of Egypt. God clears away the nations so it can be planted. Israel is saved from the slavery of Egypt and guided to the Promised Land.
The vineyard, however, will not realize its promise of fruitfulness. Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (Is 5:1-7) explains why. The vineyard proves to be a disappointment: instead of choice fruits, it yields beusim, wild grapes, inedible grapes that mature and fall to the ground before harvest time. Israel proves unfaithful, a disappointment to God, because of injustice and violence that mark its covenant relationship with God.
In John, Jesus presents himself as the true vine. He embodies the “new Israel,” God’s people, and Israel in him produces the fruit that is most pleasing to God. He is the source of life and fruitfulness for his disciples who are the branches of the vine. Hence, the necessity of remaining in him, in being attached to him as source of life.
Commenting on this similitude in one of his homilies, Pope Francis says, “Look: we are the branches, and through this parable, Jesus wants to make us understand the importance of remaining united to him. The branches are not self-sufficient, but depend totally on the vine, in which is found the source of their life. So it is with us Christians.
Grafted by Baptism in Christ, we have freely received from him the gift of new life; and thanks to the Church, we are able to remain in vital communion with Christ. We must remain faithful to [our] Baptism, and grow in intimacy with the Lord through prayer, listening, and docility to his Word, participation in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation…
“If one is intimately united to Jesus, he enjoys the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are – as Saint Paul tells us – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22); and consequently does so much good for the neighbor and the society, like a true Christian. In fact, one is recognized as a true Christian by this attitude, as a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
