ON BEING CONNECTED: THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
A sermon given by Earl William Greene, Jr. for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (B) based on John 15: 1-8.
I remember a wonderful tour and picnic at the Robert Mondavi vineyards In Napa County. We were lucky that a member of the Mondavi family was our tour guide. We enjoyed about an hour with this expert grower. I learned more about growing grapes than I thought there was to know. It seemed to me that the Concord grapes growing on our fence back at home seemed to do just fine by themselves. But these Mondavi grapes were clearly in another league.
Our guide told us that the key to growing winning grapes was in the soil and the climate. It was also about pruning. I was amazed at how severely some of the vines were pruned. There were these little stumps - row upon row of them, mature vines, yet cut way back. Our guide seemed to know each little independent stump - stopping to study specific ones as we walked the vineyard.
We learned that young vines are not even allowed to fruit for the first three years in order to conserve life and energy for later on. We learned that some vines bear fruit and others don't, so the vines without fruit are cut back drastically so they won't drain away any of the plant's strength. Intelligent pruning is not just hacking away. It's a science. No random pruning here! Pruning is done with thought and insight.
The Hebrew scriptures are filled with analogies - "picture language" - about Israel being the vineyard of God.. "The vineyard of God is the household of Israel," wrote Isaiah. Hosea wrote, "Israel is a luxuriant vine." The Psalmist wrote, "Thou didst bring a vine out of Egypt." One time, Isaiah described Israel as a "vine run wild." What a great image for a nation growing helter-skelter, having lost its sense of identity and mission.
The grape vine had actually become the emblem for the nation of Israel. A picture of a grape vine was imprinted on coins used in the holy land just before Jesus' time. One of the striking features of the Temple was the great solid golden vine upon the front of the Holy Place. Wealthy families would contribute gold to be fashioned into a bunch of grapes. Even gold enough for one grape on that vine would be a significant gift for someone to give.
So, those who heard Jesus talk about the vine and the branches clearly understood what he was talking about. Vines and branches were as familiar to them as sheep and shepherds.
They couldn't miss the obvious reference to being connected as a people. They knew the old saying about Israel being like a "luxuriant vine." After all, these "chosen people" had a common history. They were a people who had been homeless, without a land of their own. They knew what slavery was. They knew what it meant to be a "minority" - a tiny little country surrounded by very powerful neighbors.
Every Jew was "family" to every other Jew. People knew that when traveling they could depend on receiving the hospitality of each little village or town - even though they were strangers there. There was a an old commandment about it: "take in the stranger among you. The stranger is your kin, too.". Just being Jewish gave one status - it was like a birthright.
Well and good. But those who listened to Jesus teaching that day knew that he was talking about even more. One part of it was quite radical: Jesus had mentioned it several times before. That was the idea that all people are a part of God's family - not just Jews - those who could prove their "sacred" genealogy. The "radical inclusivity" in Jesus' teachings were meant to open doors to All of humankind - people on the inside and people on the outside. Everyone in God's realm was meant to be connected. All people on earth.
In following Jesus' teaching to its logical conclusion, everyone has a part in this "luxuriant vine." Everyone who ever lived. Everyone yet to be born, everyone is part of the "connection" - as a birthright, as a child of God. Everyone is to be valued. Everyone has the potential to produce beautiful fruit. That's a radically inclusive teaching even today!
The other image introduced by Jesus in this teaching that was different was that God is intricately a part of this "luxuriant vine." In fact God is like the vine itself, rooted, mature, strong, connected to an even grander network of spirit, and we are God's branches. We are interconnected as a spiritual Whole. Vine and branches are interdependent. What a marvelous teaching! How reassuring - that we and God are part of the same life, that we bring completion to each other - that our common purpose is to grow, to create, to connect, to bear wonderful fruit.
Now, the other part of Jesus teaching seems less reassuring. It's the pruning part. Hosea's ancient comment about "a vine run wild" speaks to us here. But pruning a "vine run wild" is a ticklish matter. If the gardener doesn't know what she's doing the pruning could turn into as disaster!
Who is fit to prune? Many have tried it - sometimes skillfully, oftentimes hacking away. Who among us sees the whole picture? Who has a sense of what the outcome should be? Who knows exactly where to cut away, and what to leave to grow even more? Too many of us think we do, and with totally different visions of the outcome lots of people hack away at this or that.
It seems to me that Jesus is telling us that his teachings, and the teachings of others whom God sends are intended to be the standards used to prune sometimes "wild vines." Like, "love one another." "Enter by the narrower gate." "Forgive, as you have been forgiven." "Be peacemakers." "hunger and thirst for righteousness, and you will be filled." "Be salt to this earth" "Be a light on a hill." "Reconcile with others." Know humility and the pitfalls of boasting." "Pray sincerely from your heart. Don't let ritual veil true religion." "Give to the poor." "Understand the difference between riches and being rich in God." "Learn to trust God for what you need."
Is there a shape or design for these growing vines and branches? The teachings, when gathered into a whole suggest that God will continue pruning the vines until all people repent of racism and bigotry; until Skid Rows are replaced by avenues of compassion, and streets of hope; until child neglect is replaced by child nurture; until murder, abuse and rape yield to mutual respect.
God will keep pruning until everyone who wants to work will find it; until all people of color, culture, ability and sexual orientation have access to full productive lives. Yes, until there is peace.
Have you ever felt that the pruning shears got to your branch? How did it come? A gradual awareness of a different way of growing? Or, a sharp, deep cut that made you struggle just to survive - until you found a different way of "being?"
It's like seeing a painting that hasn't been finished yet. Who knows, but God what it will finally look like? Who knows what this experience, or that stroke of luck, or that hard lesson, that sudden opportunity - who knows? Is it chance? Is shaping the vine and branches just done at random? Or, does the gardener walk the entire vineyard - back and forth - pruning where needed, finding delight in fruit beautifully developed - fruit that feeds and nurtures all creation?
By computer, I'm connected with pastors of many denominations all over the world. We share ideas, resources, personal experiences (talk about being connected!) Shawn Macdonald entered the ongoing dialog with these words: "Last week I lost my home and possessions in the Grand Forks Flood. For me, such a catastrophe becomes a test of trust. Is my trust really in God, or is it in my accumulated possessions?"
Continuing, he adds, "am I abiding in the vine, or are the grapes on my branch just artificial ones?" I am discovering that my possessions mean relatively little. Yes, I grieve for them, and I worry about handling my expenses. But having lost my stuff is a bit freeing. I can now move anywhere in a pick-up truck. And I feel "connected."
Dear God, keep Shawn McDonald, and each of us in your tender care. And whenever there is pruning to be done, help us to see the possibility of bearing far more abundant fruit in the future. We are connected. We are a part of your own life. And we will be just fine. Amen