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The Vine and the Branches (Jn. 15:1-17)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  2 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.  3 You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.  4 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.  5 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.  6 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.  7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.  8 By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.  9 As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.  10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.  15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.  16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.  17 This I command you: love one another." 

The Gospel of John used the symbol of the vine to explain that Jesus is the true vine, which supersedes the OT vine (Hos. 10:1-2; Is. 5:1-7), and God is the vine grower who prunes fruitless vines.  A fruitless vine (v. 2) is similar to a lamp that is lit and put under a bed (Mk. 4:21).  This could be a reference to Christians who hid their faith during persecution.  The disciples did not have to worry about being pruned (v. 3) and, as long as they remained in him (Jn. 14:11-13), they would be successful in their missionary work (Jn. 4:36).  Fruitless pruned branches would be burned (Mt. 3:10).  If they continued to allow Jesus to dwell in their hearts, their prayers would be in accordance with God’s will and they could be confident that their prayers would be answered.  However, abiding in Jesus might have a deeper meaning considering that Jesus was addressing them just before his death and might be telling them that they must be prepared to do the same.  

They must love one another as he loved them, and in so doing they would glorify God.  Jesus made the Father known to them so they were no longer slaves but friends.  They will share in the love Christ shares with his Father which is grounded in the Father’s commandments.  The greatest example of love was to sacrifice oneself for one’s friends (the Cross) and doing so should be an occasion for joy.  All who believe in Jesus are friends of Jesus.  Jesus chose them, they did not choose him and he expected them to collect an abundant harvest for God (Lk. 10:2).  

Almighty God, grant us the grace to remain in Jesus so that Jesus can remain in us and his word remain in our hearts.  Help us to love one another as Christ loves us and to be willing to share in his Cross so that we too can share in his resurrection.  This we pray through the same Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen!
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References

Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.

Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.

Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

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