I am the Vine

‘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. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. John 15:1-11

It is a glorious day here and it's also still early spring. Very little can be planted yet as frost may still happen. Forsythia and daffodils brighten the earth as the grass struggles to turn green. It can feel as if the summer will never come. Likewise, we can feel as if we are caught in early spring and will never get the chance to fully bloom. Yet today we are told that we are infinitely tied to the divine, part of the living God. In our doubtful times, in the times where we feel weakest, we can still count of being fed and nurtured by the Creator's abundant love. As the beauty of spring and summer breaks forth, so too will we thrive and blossom. 

Wondrous Creator, you make all things new

and bind us to you love as branch to vine

as always, a living being ready to bloom again.

Weakness and doubt overcome us at times

and we feel powerless to change anything

forgetting that you are the way and the life.

Lord Jesus, teach us again to rise with you

let our hearts and minds be always ready

to be renewed and shaped by your love. Amen.