Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

I recently visited South Australia’s prime wine-growing region – McLaren Vale. When you are wandering around this beautiful area; sampling its wines and, of course, its food; walking through its vineyards; and marvelling at the synchronicity of such working operations, today’s gospel takes on a whole new perspective.

The reading today is from the Last Supper discourse in John’s Gospel. Jesus brings to this an element of immediacy in language and setting that those listening to him may have experienced and could certainly relate to. But there is also a sense of homeliness, a family-ness, about it: Make your home in me as I make mine in you. I am the vine, you are the branches; whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty.

Christ’s essential message is the vine, His Body – of which you and I are the branches. We allow ourselves to be ‘pruned’ so that the best conditions are set for us to produce much fruit. This is our calling, a calling we can either accept, or we can choose to reject. If the latter is our response, we cut ourselves off from the vine – we are discarded, to be piled up with the rest of the cuttings and burnt on the fire. Choosing the former, choosing to offer ourselves into the hands of the vinedresser to be pruned, allows us to grow, to become new shoots, new fruit, new wine.

When you next have a tipple or two of a good wine, take a moment to reflect on these words of Jesus: “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

Cheers!