Today is the fifth Sunday of Easter.
In a bible study I facilitated years ago Jeff Cavins talked about being fruit inspectors. It was his funny way of saying don’t attempt to judge the contents of the heart of others but instead judge them by their results, or fruit. All these years I’ve kept his saying in mind when being tempted to judge others.
In today’s Gospel Jesus talks about bearing fruit. He says those who do not bear fruit are “taken away” and those who do are pruned so that they will bear even more fruit. What do you suppose that pruning looks like? I think it looks like attending Mass and being challenged by the readings, prayers, and the homily. I think it looks like turning ever closer to Jesus as we more and more realize we can’t save anyone else ourselves. I think it looks like loving others more and ourselves less over time. I also think it is being able to say, along with St. Paul, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.“
This idea of pruning sounds a lot like what some in the Church refer to as formation. I never served in the military but I always think of how they take someone and break them of some behaviors while increasing their focus on other, more desirable, behaviors. That’s a sort of pruning as well I think. As Christians we start out saying yes I believe, but is that really enough. Well, it’s the bare minimum but it isn’t what we’re called to. How do we get from our baptism to being fruitful disciples? I think it starts with a decision not only to believe but a dedication to know, love, and serve Him who we believe in. Then we give God permission to change us as needed to achieve His plans for us and to actively participate in those changes. That’s a sort of formation and, I think, a kind of pruning.
Pruning necessarily involves trimming back some things and being shaped more like something new. That’s what disciples do. Shake off those traits and behaviors that hold us back from growing ever closer to God and becoming little Christs.
So, as we think about today’s Gospel let’s consider how connected we are to the Vine, via the sacraments and prayer, and how open we are to being pruned for greater fruitfulness. I believe God wants us to be very fruitful. We need to say yes and then cooperate with him. Sometimes that even means for us to get out of His way. It’s something to pray about.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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