The Connection

 John 15:1-11 is the Gospel Lectionary text for Sunday, May 2

Vine and Branches.

First, the threat, that the Vine-grower will remove those branches that do not bear fruit, AND prunes those that do to produce more.

Then, the command - Abide in me, as I abide in you.  If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in my love... 

Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches.

We are connected to Jesus, but more importantly connected to one another THROUGH Jesus.  The vine provides the life stuff to the branches, which are connected to one another and subject to the vine.

If some branches get diseased, other branches are threatened.

If some branches are cut off, it affects the whole vine.

It is about life, the stuff of life that flows from God to all of us.  There is no room for disease or unproductive branches.  It is about giving the stuff of life to the whole in order that good stuff will be produced for the whole world.

The well-being of EACH depends upon the well-being of ALL.

We are all connected.

The fate of EACH depends upon the well-being of ALL.

With regard to our environment, communities, families, individuals and our own souls, our connection to the source of life stuff provides and we must pass along that life stuff and produce good things for the whole.

If ALL do not have Shalom (completeness, wholeness, well-being and peace), then NONE have Shalom.

You cannot segregate yourself (emotionally, ideologically, geographically or socially) from others and remain connected to the True Vine.  Any apathy, hatred or complacency you may have means that you are not producing the stuff of life for the whole, and that you have cut yourself off from the True Vine, because you have separated yourself from the other branches who are connected to the True Vine.  Branches may be grafted in, and they are to be connected to the whole as well.  

This is about life: the life of the planet, the life of individuals and the life of humanity.  God expects us to be about sharing the life stuff that will sustain the whole.  Branches that are cut off die.  Branches that are connected thrive and produce more good fruit that sustains life.

And the life stuff is Agape Love: active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger or enemy, and especially the most vulnerable - you know, our sisters and brothers, children of God who are connected to God, the other branches.  It produces, sustains and transforms lives and the life of the whole.

Be connected to the True Vine.  In order for that to be possible, you MUST BE connected to the other branches through the True Vine.

It truly is about whether we LIVE or DIE: as humans, as creation, as souls.

Pastor Jamie