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 every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
A Eucharistic image is deeply imbedded in John’s passage that begins the presentation of Jesus’ discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus is the vine, the life-giving fruit of the vine, the source of union. I am a branch intimately connected to the vine whose purpose is to produce fruit. What must I do to be fruitful? Jesus states this fruitfulness is remaining in Him and He in me.
I am given a choice to remain in Jesus, allowing Him to remain in me, or to reject this union. And what are the consequences? If I am not fruitful, if I refuse to maintain my intimate relationship with Jesus I, like the fruitless branch, am to be taken away, cut off, but if I choose to sustain this union that Jesus has established in his Blood, what awaits this choice? I am to be pruned in order to bring forth more fruit!
Am I willing to do what is necessary to allow Jesus to retain this intimate relationship with me, even though its implication is that I must be pruned, that I need to be willing to let go of something I cling to? Jesus, open my eyes to see what it is that I am clinging to that inhibits my being more fruitful.
Sr. Betty Adams, ASC
