Document:  Johannine.94.02


Johannine Hour - John 15 1-17 - 2/94 - Taize

To speak about the People of God, the prophets sometimes used the image
of the vine. God transplanted it from Egypt to Palestine to grow and
bear fruit, in other words to communicate something of the living God by
practicing solidarity and justice. Most often, the image is a call to
conversion of heart: if the vine keeps on producing sour grapes, the
farmer will have no other alternative but to pull it up and begin all
over again (cf. Isa 5,1-7; Ezek 17).

By applying the image to himself, Jesus transforms it into "good news."
He is the true vine, God's seed planted in the history of the world. Now
everything is different: there is no danger that this vine will fail.
And each branch, if it remains on the vine, is sure to bear good fruit
abundantly, even if it has to pass through trials to do so (v.2b). The
branches are the disciples, united to Christ by sharing a common life.

The essential thing for believers, then, is not to be concerned about
"results" or to dream up ambitious projects but simply to remain linked
to Christ, to "remain in his love" (v.9). Nothing is disastrous except
to be cut off from the Source, to cease living in communion with Christ.
And the sign that we are living in this communion is the love we have
for one another, following Christ's example. In doing this, we become
his friends, not just servants but free persons who are fully aware of
what they are doing. Love, by its very nature, is pleased to give all to
the loved one, taking no thought of its own status.

How can I "remain in Christ," (v.4), in his love (v.9), by letting his
words remain in me (v.7)?

Have I been able to understand a difficult period in my life,
afterwards, as a way that God was "pruning" me (v.2) so that I could be
more transparent, more open to his love?

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