Being Grafted to the Vine
"I am the vine, you are the branches" (Jn. 15:5). As a people, we do not live alone and we are unable to survive alone. We are dependent and interdependent by nature. Some may argue and disagree but they can debate all they want, but there is a Creator God who made this world and all that is within it, including us. Look at the proofs offered by philosophy and science. There are too many things that needed to happen in order for the earth to be as it is - the right mixture of elements to make earth inhabitable, the most minuscule building blocks of our bodies, etc. Saying it is purely coincidence does not do it for me. It is not coincidence, it is Providence.
We were created out of love, with love, and for love. In fact we were created by Love itself, for God is love. In being created, we have been and continue to be nurtured and provided for by Our Creator. Jesus tells us that He is the vine, the Father is the vinegrower, and we are the branches. Without the vine, the branches would not be able to live and produce fruit, and the vine's end is to produce fruit. The vinegrower wants fruit to be produced. The vine is to produce sweet, juicy, and crisp grapes. These grapes will bring delight to people because they will be good to eat. The grapes provides nutrients for the body. The grapes will also be used to make good wine to warm the people's hearts. Good fruit benefits people. Analogously, this fruit is what comes about through friendship with God. This fruit is peace, joy, and love. In order for us, the branches, to bear much fruit, we must be grafted onto the vine. The vinegrower will provide all that the vine and branches need to produce fruit - the soil, the water, the fertilizer, (and the sun!), and He will prune us as needed. To be pruned to is be loved. Pruning may hurt sometimes, but it will only make us stronger and and more ready to bear fruit that will be good and will be lasting. The good news is that we are told that we are already pruned branches (and will continued to be pruned). We have been created to bear fruit. It is time we ought to take hold of this great truth and reality and to live it!
The Father wants nothing more than for us to bear fruit. And in order to do that we must hold on to Jesus who is One with the Father. We also must look out for one another because one branch can't do all the work and feed everyone. We must all work together to bear the fruit that will last. Graft yourself onto Jesus Christ, who is the lifeline to the Father, who provides us with all we need. Do not become branches that will be taken down and cast into the fire. Do not, because we are pruned branches. We have been created and destined for producing great fruit. Don't let yourself settle for less than what you are made for. Let us go out and produce the great fruit God has planned for us to produce.
Father, teach me always to stay close to Jesus, who is One with you, our lifeline. Give me the courage and humility to ask for the grace to trust in your Providence, in that You will provide all that I need in life. In those dark times, give me the grace to persevere, knowing that you will never abandon and give up on me, the branch you have begun to prune.
We were created out of love, with love, and for love. In fact we were created by Love itself, for God is love. In being created, we have been and continue to be nurtured and provided for by Our Creator. Jesus tells us that He is the vine, the Father is the vinegrower, and we are the branches. Without the vine, the branches would not be able to live and produce fruit, and the vine's end is to produce fruit. The vinegrower wants fruit to be produced. The vine is to produce sweet, juicy, and crisp grapes. These grapes will bring delight to people because they will be good to eat. The grapes provides nutrients for the body. The grapes will also be used to make good wine to warm the people's hearts. Good fruit benefits people. Analogously, this fruit is what comes about through friendship with God. This fruit is peace, joy, and love. In order for us, the branches, to bear much fruit, we must be grafted onto the vine. The vinegrower will provide all that the vine and branches need to produce fruit - the soil, the water, the fertilizer, (and the sun!), and He will prune us as needed. To be pruned to is be loved. Pruning may hurt sometimes, but it will only make us stronger and and more ready to bear fruit that will be good and will be lasting. The good news is that we are told that we are already pruned branches (and will continued to be pruned). We have been created to bear fruit. It is time we ought to take hold of this great truth and reality and to live it!
The Father wants nothing more than for us to bear fruit. And in order to do that we must hold on to Jesus who is One with the Father. We also must look out for one another because one branch can't do all the work and feed everyone. We must all work together to bear the fruit that will last. Graft yourself onto Jesus Christ, who is the lifeline to the Father, who provides us with all we need. Do not become branches that will be taken down and cast into the fire. Do not, because we are pruned branches. We have been created and destined for producing great fruit. Don't let yourself settle for less than what you are made for. Let us go out and produce the great fruit God has planned for us to produce.
Father, teach me always to stay close to Jesus, who is One with you, our lifeline. Give me the courage and humility to ask for the grace to trust in your Providence, in that You will provide all that I need in life. In those dark times, give me the grace to persevere, knowing that you will never abandon and give up on me, the branch you have begun to prune.
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| Grape Vines by Karen Casciani |
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