I am the Vine, You are the Branches:  Alleluia, Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Easter is the unearned gift of grace. We have work to do, but not as lone rangers. We are called to stay connected to the vine, faithfully and courageously reaching out, securely connected to the vine of life. We will probably experience some very painful pruning. Later, often much later, we will experience the fruit. Abiding in that vine, trusting in it, and accepting its confines, we will learn to want the appropriate things and be free to ask for them. The work we are given to do, we will be able to do joyfully to the glory of God.

In today’s scripture, the image Jesus uses is the vine. Reflect for a moment or two on memories of a vine: perhaps a grape arbor in the Okanagan Valley, a yard that you may have visited in the past. Can you share images that came to you back then?

It is fairly non-threatening to consider branches being removed that bear no fruit when we are talking about a vine. What other types of branches might Jesus be referring to here? Jesus wants us to know that we are NOT all alone. We are connected to Jesus. Stay connected to me, Jesus tells us. Stay connected, and I will help you do hard stuff, and you will always know that I love you.

How do we reconcile Jesus’ offer to “abide in him” with our cultural insistence that we excel, succeed, live up to our potential? In what ways can we live up to our potential and still abide in Jesus?

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for sending us Jesus to hold up for us the promise of connection and abiding love. Help us to choose to stay connected to you so we can truly abide in you. Amen.