Thoughts for the Day

‘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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Who do you look like in your family? (If you don't know your birth family, perhaps you can create imaginary parents). Do you take after your father in that you are tall, but your mother who is dark haired? Whose shaped head or nose do you have, and those hands or feet, who do they resemble? Can you look at other members of the family and see resemblances? Sometimes it's possible to look back at photographs of our children when they were young, and be unable to tell which child at a certain age it was, for instance!

Jesus says that He is the vine, in the 7th "I am" statement, and we are the branches, and unless we are rooted in Him we cannot bear fruit. Just as we inherit many characteristics from our parents and often grow up in their likeness, so we are to be like the branches of a grape-vine and be able to produce a good crop of fruit. To do this we need to be grafted into the true rootstock, which is Jesus. After all grapes don't grow on thistles, nor do Christians grow without Christ! Our fruits according to St Paul will be 'Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control', (Galatians 5.22-23), and while not all our human characteristics copy our parents, so some of these fruits may not be easily produced in us.

However, as branches rooted in the true vine, we must continue to become more like Jesus. Perhaps we can be honest with ourselves today, and look at start trying to produce one of those fruits that are more difficult for us?

Lord Jesus,
You are the true vine
and we are the branches.
Help us to grow ever more fruit,
so that as Your disciples in the world
we may work for the coming of Your Kingdom
of love and peace.
Amen.