A reflection by Fr. Gareth Ingham for the 5th of Easter
One of the pleasures of living and working in rural North Shropshire is the beautiful countryside. Often, when I arrive at any one of our Church buildings, I spend a few moments listening to the birdsong, spotting the re-emerging wildflowers in the undergrowth, or just simply soaking in the views.
All of this speaks to me of the gift that we have received in creation. It’s a reality that is not hidden but is all around us; thankfully now lively and becoming greener by the day. At St John’s in Colemere, this wonder of creation is added to by the well-manicured vineyard sitting adjacent to the churchyard.
Now Jesus often taught using signs and symbols taken from a rural or agricultural context. One of these images was that of the vineyard, the place managed for the cultivation of grapes and more importantly wine. In the Gospel stories there are two parables set in vineyards, both concentrating on the labourers who work within them, but the Gospel reading on Sunday focuses our attention on the vines themselves.
In the Hebrew scriptures the image of a vineyard was often used to represent the kingdom of Israel. Here in the New Testament, it is a sign of the Kingdom of God, and now we hear Jesus use the vine to represent himself.
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower…I am the vine, you are the branches.
Jesus would have known that vines grow slowly and need lots of care and attention if a fruitful crop is to be harvested. If the fruit is to set and ripen, then the vine will need to be cleansed and managed by regular and careful pruning. By calling his followers the branches, he is suggesting that they will need to be pruned and cleansed if they are to bear much fruit.
I would hope that we are all cleansed and pruned continuously during our journeys of faith. That as we commit ourselves daily to follow Jesus Christ, as we slowly grow in discipleship, then the sinful bits of our lives that create discord, disharmony, or harm, are all lopped off and thrown into the fire.
On Easter morning many of us renewed our baptismal vows, a reminder that we are all grafted onto the same true vine, and that it is in Him and through Him that the Father is to be glorified.
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. Amen.
Fr. Gareth
Feature Image: Karden,St._Castor-Jesus_wahrer_Weinstock,_17._Jh.(2019-05-23_Sp), PD.