5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR B)

 

1st Reading          Acts 9: 26-31

Psalm                     22. 26b-27. 28 and 30. 31-32 (R. 26a)

2nd Reading       1 John 3: 18-24

Gospel                   John 15: 1-8

GROWTH MUST BE GUIDED

Dear friends, today is the 5th Sunday of Easter (Year B). Today is also the last Sunday of April, and we should give thanks to God for his providence. The Gospel passage for this Sunday is replete with images that draw our attention to growth in the spiritual life, a kind of growth that affects other aspects of life, recognizing that we have been redeemed from sin and death. We should not forget that we are still in the season of Easter. 

Let us zoom in on the Gospel and say a few words about it. The Gospel is from John 15: 1-8. Reading this passage, we come across words like vine, vine master (or vine dresser), fruit, branch, prune, and burnt. These words necessarily help us to realize that the Gospel passage is set within an agricultural context. Additionally, we hear the word "remain" at least 8 times, and it becomes very significant in today's Gospel passage. The passage's beginning, thus, "I AM the vine" (v. 1) is also very interesting as it not only links Jesus' "SEVEN I AM" emphatic statements comparing himself to things we are familiar with but emphasizes the divine identity of Jesus as God. In fact, God reveals himself as I AM (Exod. 3: 14). Interestingly, the Hebrew rendition of I AM in Exodus 3: 14 corresponds to the 4 Hebrew consonants YHWH, and it means "to exist". This spells out the fact that God is existence himself, and "in him, we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17: 28). When Jesus also said I AM, his statement connects to God's self-revelation as YHWH, and the Greek expression for I AM is "Egō eimi". This expression means I am existing. 

In the Gospel (Jn. 15: 1-8), Jesus says, "I am the true Vine". Israel is viewed as the Vineyard of God (Ps. 80: 8-9; Isa. 5: 1-7). By saying that he is the true vine, Jesus takes on himself the identity of being the True Israel. He then says of God as the "Vinedresser". However, we need to know what a vine is before we can know what the Vinedresser does. 

A Vine is a plant whose long trunk grows along the ground or fastens itself to other objects by means of its tendrils. The climate and terrain of Syro-Palestine favoured the cultivation of vines, and the product of the vine, which is grapefruit processed into wine, was renowned from Egypt to Babylon. In the Ancient Near East, wine ranked with oil as an important commercial crop. The Vine is, therefore a very important plant. In fact, the one who grows vines, the Vine dresser will be considered a very rich and important personality. It is, therefore, the function of the vinedresser to not only plant vine but also to take care of it.

Vines require heavy annual pruning (Lev. 25:4), hoeing (Isa. 5:6), thinning and support of fruit, and sometimes irrigation (Isa. 27:3). To be a vinedresser is very intensive work. Interestingly, a man who has planted a vineyard but not enjoyed its fruit is exempted from military service (Deut. 20:6). 

In the course of caring for the vine, the vinedresser prunes the vine. Pruning involves the removal of unwanted parts. The vinedresser prunes for two main reasons: 

1. when the branch grows out of range, it is cut or pruned to allow the branch to grow within its specified domain.

2. When the branch is attacked by a disease.

When a branch is affected by a disease, it needs to be cut because the tendency for the disease to spread to other branches is envisaged. Also, that branch cannot bear fruit (Jn. 15: 2).

The problem is why would the vinedresser prune a branch that is doing well? Jesus said, "he (the vinedresser) takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit" (v. 2). I want to propose that although the branch is doing well, it needs to be guided to what is expected. That is the duty of the vinedresser. As the vinedresser prunes, he is guiding and charting the right course for a branch. The Greek word used there to denote PRUNE is KATHAIRŌ and it means TO PURGE OR CLEANSE. 

The idea remains that growth needs to be guided. Pruning gives a picture of painful but necessary removal of some interests and activities in order that the remaining branches may bear even more fruit. This is how the vinedresser cares for the vine. It might be painful but necessary. For everyone who is making some progress in the spiritual life, there is a need for guidance lest he is affected by the diseases and influences of the world and grows out of range. 

On this 5th Sunday of Easter, as we have been redeemed from sin and death and are desiring to grow in the spiritual life, we need to avail ourselves for guidance. Our growth has to be guided. 

Pax et Bonum 🙏❤️🕊