John 15: 1-8
I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
In the Old Testament, the chosen people of Israel have been compared to a vine. We may think, for example, of Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) in which God complains that, despite the care he has lavished upon it, his vineyard has only produced wild grapes:
NOW will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus uses this imagery of the vineyard in his parable of the tenants, who injure and murder the messengers of the lord of the vineyard, this signifying the rejection of Jesus by the Jews and the call to the Gentiles to follow Christ. Here Jesus develops our understanding of the symbolism, explaining that he is the true vine and that, to be fruitful in our lives, and to receive the gift of eternal life, we as the branches must be joined to him. In short, we can do nothing without him. Jesus is the air that we breathe. Our very existence is through Christ.
We are to abide in Christ, and to welcome and rejoice in Christ as he enters to abide in us. Through this, Christians then become part of one body. Our faith, then, goes beyond our private experience of God; it is communal, each member of Christ’s body, the Church, working for the good of others, and exhorting one another to greater faith.
The vine, Jesus tells us, is good only if it bears fruit. It is not fit for carpentry. Should a branch not bear fruit, it is then only fit to be burned. Through the parable, we are additionally taught that through pruning we may be brought to bear more fruit. Jesus speaks here of the ways in which we may suffer for our faith, and of sacrifices that may be entailed. Through this discipline of faith, we may come to full fruition in Christ Jesus.
‘Have you not heard the Master himself tell the parable of the vine and the branches? Here we find consolation. He demands much of you, for you are the branch that bears fruit. And he must prune you… to make you bear more fruit. Of course, that cutting, that pruning, hurts. But afterwards, what richness in your fruits, what maturity in your actions.’ St Josemaria Escriva
Audio Bible KJV | Endnotes
The Parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-8) is a teaching of Jesus of Nazareth concerning the nature of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. In the parable, Jesus compares himself to a vine and his followers to the branches. Jesus emphasizes the importance for Christians of our connection with Jesus in order to bear fruit.
Jesus says: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.’ (John 15:1-2 KJV) Jesus explains that his followers must abide in him, just as a branch must stay connected to the living vine in order to produce fruit.
Interpretations of the parable have included:
- The importance of a close relationship with Jesus: The main message of this parable is the importance of having a close relationship with Jesus in order to produce fruit. Just as a branch must stay connected to the vine, Christians must remain connected to Jesus in order to bear fruit.
- The purging of the branches: The parable also emphasizes the idea that the branches must be pruned or purged in order to bear more fruit. This is seen as a symbol of the discipline and transformation that takes place in the lives of believers as they grow closer to Jesus.
- The nature of spiritual fruit: The fruit mentioned in the parable is often interpreted as spiritual fruit, such as love, joy, peace, and kindness, which are the result of a close relationship with Jesus. This highlights the idea that the goal of the Christian life is not just to do good works, but to cultivate a relationship with Jesus that produces these spiritual qualities.
- The role of the Holy Spirit: Some interpretations of this parable also emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit, who is seen as the life-giving source of spiritual fruit. In this view, the Holy Spirit is the source of the connection between Jesus and his followers, and it is through the Spirit that the branches are able to produce fruit.
The Parable of the Vine and the Branches is related to other teachings of Jesus, including the Sermon on the Mount, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Also it relates to the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his followers the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God. This message is similar to the message of the Parable of the Vine and the Branches, as both emphasize the importance of staying connected to Jesus in order to produce fruit. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matthew 5:6 KJV) This idea of hungering and thirsting after righteousness is similar to the idea of staying connected to the vine in order to produce fruit.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son relates to the message of the Parable of the Vine and the Branches, as both emphasize the idea of being restored to a close relationship with God. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son returns to his father, confessing his sins and seeking forgiveness. This is seen as a symbol of the restoration of the relationship between God and the sinner. Similarly, in the Parable of the Vine and the Branches, Jesus emphasizes the importance of staying connected to him in order to produce fruit, and highlights the idea of the purging of the branches as a symbol of the transformation that takes place in the lives of believers as they grow closer to Jesus.
The Parable of the Vine and the Branches is related to the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed for strength to face his upcoming Crucifixion. In the garden, Jesus said: ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matthew 26:39) This prayer highlights the idea of submitting to God’s will, just as the branches in the parable must submit to the will of the husbandman. In both cases, Jesus and the branches must surrender their own desires in order to do what is right and pleasing to God.
Help us to see ourselves as we truly are, Saint Anthony. Grant us the gift of self-awareness, that we may recognize our faults and weaknesses, and turn to God with contrite hearts. May we always remember that without God, we are nothing, and that all good things come from Him [ … ]
The reading expresses Saint Ignatius’ faith in Jesus Christ as he was escorted to Rome for Christian martyrdom, to be torn apart by wild beasts in the Coliseum. One crucial point of the reading to take away is that Saint Ignatius expresses possible doubt in his own confidence to go through with his martyrdom with courage. He prays that his fellow Christians might support him through prayer to enable him to embrace his witness – his martyrdom – to Jesus Christ and to Christian faith [ … ]
Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
