The Gospel reading for today is taken from the long discourse in the Gospel according to John, which Jesus gave to his disciples on the night before his passion.  Today's passage is the parable of the vine.  

The image of the vine dresser, the vine and the branches is a very intimate one.   Jesus is revealing to us how he saw himself and of his deep relationship with his Father in heaven.  He is the true Vine.  The Father tends the vine, cutting away the branch that bears no fruit and pruning those that are bearing so they can bear even more. 

Jesus continues to speak about his relationship with us.  "Make your home in me as I make mine in you.  Wow!  We are branches of the vine.   We are not isolated individuals.  Cut off from the vine, the branch can bear no fruit.   We must stay connected to and settle ourselves in Jesus.  Then we bear much fruit.  Genuine intimacy with God and with all of creation always leads to great flourishing, the Father glories in this.  It is the fruit of authentic discipleship.  

What a beautiful image to leave with the disciples, the branches, by Jesus, the true vine, on the eve of his passing over to his Father the Vinedresser.  It possibly made little sense to them then but these words of Jesus must have found a home in their hearts. 

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles attests to this.  

As new members were added to the early Christian community, the apostles had to learn how to honor the different branches that were springing up among them while at the same time remaining faithful to the Vine and allowing themselves to be pruned and cared for by the Vinedresser.   This bore great fruit.  There was unity in diversity and the community flourished!

We thank God for the intimate way in which he wants to relate with us and us with each other.  We ask forgiveness for times when we tried to go it alone.  We separated ourselves from the vine – the community, the church, the nation, nature and came to realize that we could not bear fruit if it is cut off. 

Jesus help us to realize that becoming your disciples is not about trying to be perfect.  It is about learning to remain in your love, letting your word enter into our lives, so that we can live in you and you in us.  Eventually, our good works are like fruit on the branches and they give glory to the Father in heaven.  Amen.