Dear St. Paul’s Friends and Family,
Last week Jesus compared himself to a Good Shepherd caring for us, his sheep. This week he presents us with a new image to consider: Jesus as the vine, God as the vine grower, and all of us as the branches. The thing that strikes me about the vineyard imagery is how interconnected we are. Like branches on a tree or vine, none of us have life without the main vine. Without being connected to the life-giving main stem, all will wither and perish. The nourishment that Jesus gives us is not solely spiritual, but the strength, courage, and character to live out each day working to further the loving reign of God in our world.
In keeping with the vine and branches imagery, it should not be lost on us that we are at our best as individuals when we are firmly connected with the true vine and all the other branches that are given the same nourishment and call to bear fruit in the world. The fruit that we are called to bear together is salvation for the world; literally, healing, hoping, and loving those who are wounded, alienated, or even severed from the true vine. This fruit-bearing takes the shape of providing for those in need, offering moral and spiritual support to the sick and hurting, as well as speaking up in defense of those who are critically judged because of who they are as a person rather than how they’ve treated others.
We seem to be living in a time when it’s so easy to get upset over a plethora of things. Far too often, culture- shaping forces like social media, pundits, and politicians vie for our attention by stoking outrage over cultural issues of little importance. May our connection to the true vine, Christ, give us wisdom and discerning hearts, so that our attention and energy may help to not only heal societal divisions, but also bring change to the systems and relationships that keep our neighbors from experiencing abundant life. We experience oneness with God through our connection to Christ and that same connection will reconcile us to one another. May God give us the strength to accomplish that healing work.
Blessings for your journey,
Pastor Matt
April 28, 2024
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