GOSPEL REFLECTION, WEDNESDAY, 5TH WEEK OF EASTER, 21 MAY 2025, ST EUGENE DE MAZENOD

John 15:1-8.  In today’s reading makes another “I AM” statement which reveals much about him, his relationship with the Father, and his relationship with us.  The “I AM” statements are really important moments of revelation.  As today’s urban dwellers we must examine these carefully since we are almost certainly unfamiliar with what the image of the vine meant to the disciples.  It was addressed to them at the Last Supper as Jesus said his farewell to them.  As we read or hear it we must understand it as his disciples in our times.

The image of the vine is an ancient symbol for the people of Israel.  In Jesus “I AM” statement Jesus emphatically refers it to himself, his Father, and we as disciples.  In Jesus’ time vines had to be pruned and carefully cultivated in order to grow and bear fruit.  Lacking intervention they were next to useless.  They have to be raised on trellises in order to bear most fruit, and the soil must be carefully prepared and constantly cultivated.  Vines grow luxuriantly and severe pruning is necessary, or the fruit crop will be drastically reduced. Young vines were radically pruned for the first three years of growth in order to prepare them to bear fruit after that.   As the lush vine grew it produced two kinds of branches – those that would bear fruit, and those that would not.  The latter had to be pruned, or the fruit crop would be lessened by far.  They sapped the growthy of the vine.  They were cast aside to be burned because vine wood is of almost no other use.

Ther is something here that reminds us of God’s covenant with us.  In it he chooses his people to whom he would be eternally faithful.  As his people we are given his commandments to undertake as our part of the covenant.  If his people remain faithful to the covenant they would grow and flourish fruitfully.  If they did not they would wither and judgment would follow.

The powerful image of the vine is a powerful image for the indwelling of Jesus with the Father and our indwelling in him, astonishing images of intimacy.  It is a spiritual and mystical image of the relationship between them, but on our part we are to bear fruit in action.  It is a powerful image of life and growth or their withering without due attention.  For us we are to remain in constant awareness and attention to our relationship with Jesus and the Father.  Constant, regular prayer is essential.  Constant ‘bearing of fruit’ spiritually means constant action in good works too.  Anything less is a withering of the vine so that it must be pruned and withered branches cast away as unfruitful, unfaithful to God’s covenant with us.