April 27, 2005

The Vine Jn 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
"Remain in me as I remain in you." God is a true living part of my being with a living presence inside of me. It is a connection that is kept alive by bearing fruit which means to me living the way, the word of God daily. The hardships encountered by the acting out of the will of God are the pruning of myself the vine that make me grow even more and bear more good works or fruit.