Fifth Sunday of Easter
Donna Joy

John 15:1-8

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

Those initially hearing Jesus say these words would have automatically understood the significance of the vine metaphor. Vineyards were everywhere in Jesus’ time; throughout the O.T., prophets and psalmists often speak of Israel as a vine which God planted on rich, fertile ground. Ann Garrido in her podcast this week makes the point that it offered an image of a people, chosen and cared for. In the New Testament times, with vineyards everywhere, they were often used as a backdrop for parables that Jesus told.

But, in this morning’s reading the vine/vineyard is not a backdrop to the story. It is, instead the story, where Jesus describes himself as the vine: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.” When he says this, he is claiming to be that vine. He is identifying those disciples, and each of us, as the very branches on that vine. I (Jesus) am the true vine (here he is drawing on the O.T. interpretation of the word ‘true’; that is, faithful, steadfast). I (Jesus) am the One who remains constant in the covenant of God. I (Jesus) am the One who remains planted and cared for by God; bearing abundant fruit. I (Jesus) am the One who has been faithful to God’s will and shall remain faithful. And…

You are the branches. You all share in my relationship with God. By the words I’ve spoken and my example you have been cultivated - that is, prepared to grow the Kingdom of God.

So, let’s take a minute to think about how a labourer cares for the branches on a vine, so that they may produce excellent fruit. To begin with, the vine must be regularly fed and watered. Another important step in the care of the whole vine is pruning. Pruning is an essential step for a successful crop; vines need to focus their energy on producing good quality grapes, rather than lots of second-rate ones. (I think this is an interesting insight whenever we are tempted to measure the success of a church simply by numerical growth.) Vines need to grow toward the light rather than turning inward and therefore getting caught up in a tangled mass. So, a well-tended vine produces vast quantities of good quality fruit, while a poorly tended vine’s fruit is small, hard, and sour.

And so it is, says Jesus, with the life of his followers, as he says, “Remain in me, don’t get separated from me, the true vine; remain within this people being shaped and pruned; be amazed at what fruit will grow from this relationship with God and each other. Remain in me, says Jesus. Just as the branch must remain connected to the vine in order to bear good fruit, you are the branches of this vine that is me; you must remain connected to me. I think this is a good time to remember that while many of you are able to access this Zoom format so remain connected while physically apart through this pandemic, there remain many who cannot. I’m so grateful to the Parish Caring Ministry team, who have been nurturing those branches on the vine through telephone calls, cards sent through Canada Post, etc. I think we also need to be intentional about carrying those folks in our hearts each week as we gather for worship and fellowship in this way. As branches of this vine, it is made clear through our Baptismal Covenant that we are nurtured and fed in very particular ways: through continuing in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship (reading Scripture in the company of – in communion with the church). It is impossible for followers of Jesus to flourish in the absence of other Christians, which is another reason why I’m grateful to Parish Caring Ministries during this pandemic. We are nurtured and fed as a Eucharistic people, remembering and being empowered by this as we anticipate a time when we will gather around the table once again. And we are nurtured and fed by continuing in the prayers both as individuals and collectively as church.

As branches on the vine that is Jesus, we don’t always weather the storms of life in the best possible way; and often the consequence of this is sin. Through our Baptismal Covenant, we are reminded that repenting and returning to God is another way our rootedness remains solid; another way in which we, the branches, remain connected to Jesus. This repenting and returning to God can be seen as allowing God to prune away those behaviours that produce sour fruit, diminishing the growth of God’s kingdom.

Jesus said, ‘remain with me.’ Sticking with him during those sinful times is hard. Really hard. Naming, and allowing God to reverse, sinful behaviour requires hard and steadfast work. Selfishness and greed - fulfilling our own needs even when we know it has a negative impact on others: homelessness, hunger, climate crisis; self-serving choices during this pandemic; refusing to forgive (sometimes there is comfort in holding on to resentments, even to the degree of hate, and it takes courage to follow the way of God’s forgiveness – forgiving others, and ourselves); manipulating for the purpose of gaining power and control. All this and more can become well established patterns of behaviour within us which are hard to address and reverse, but with God’s help this is possible.

Did you know that when the grapevine is pruned, it ‘weeps’ after the pruning takes place; sap drips out like tears, but it is a sign that you have cut properly and life is thriving within the vine. It seems to me that our own spiritual pruning process is likely to cause some tears, as we prune away some of the habits and patterns that have become all too familiar, and comfortable, in order to allow fresh new fruits to appears.

As we look to our Baptismal covenant to discover how we, the branches, are nurtured and fed, we also see very clearly how to define the abundant fruits that may be produced: that is, a willingness to: (1) proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ; (2) seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbour as ourselves; (3) strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being; and (4) strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain, and renew the life of the Earth.

This is the last sermon I will be offering before my retirement on May 16th. It has been a great privilege to share this section of God’s vineyard with you over the past 11 years. Together, we have remained in Jesus through both good and challenging times; we have remained in Jesus as we’ve been fed and nurtured by God, according to God’s promise; we have remained in Jesus through the fruits that have been produced. There is no other place I would have preferred to be for this past 11 years, and I’m grateful that we have lived – together – as branches in this section of the vineyard.
As I prepare to leave you, I do so, confident that with God’s help, this section of the vine will continue to flourish and grow. With God’s help and the leadership of your new incumbent, you will continue to face the challenges that lie ahead and with regular nourishment and pruning when necessary, you will discover new possibilities and new hope.

Eleven years ago when I was called to St. Peter’s, this parish – at that moment in time -was looking for a leader, a gardener, with a particular set of skills, expertise, and experience. Now, 11 years later, St. Peter’s has evolved in such a way that you need someone with a fresh set of leadership qualities, to help you remain intimately connected to Jesus, the vine, and bear new fruit in the midst of a rapidly changing context. I need you to promise me that when your new incumbent is in place, you will never utter the words, “Well, Donna never did it THAT way.” Instead, I urge you to trust the wisdom of your search committee (who have already proven their powers of discernment), that they have exercised faithful discernment in choosing the right person, and then support your new leader as he or she becomes one of the branches on this St. Peter’s vine, and also guides you in keeping the vine fed, nurtured, and bearing good fruit. Any gifts that I (and other former leaders) have offered here at St. Peter’s can best be celebrated by allowing future leaders – with God’s help – to guide you into new possibilities and new life. With the help of your new incumbent, God will continue to tend this vine so that you may continue to produce rich fruit: proclaiming the Good News, loving unconditionally, striving for justice, kindness, compassion, and peace, caring for God’s creation.

Meanwhile, I am filled with gratitude for the love you have shown me and David, and for your willingness to step up and work with me and others collaboratively in sharing worship, ministry, and mission during this past 11 years.
Thank you. And thanks be to God!