This parable is one of my favorites, it points to a reality that we all know instinctually, but often struggle to fully grasp. When we live according to Gods will, and align our lives with His natural law…, our lives are just easier. When we do things our own way, you will find yourself experiencing one difficulty after another. This is because God is the source of all things good, true and beautiful. You can only have these things in your life to the extent that you are giving them away, and allowing them to flow through you, like a divine river of grace. Pope St. John Paul II called this the “law of the gift” and it speaks to a beautiful reality that is being addressed here in today’s parable.
The vine represents this perfectly. It wanders throughout the garden, and provides nutrients to all of the branches. But the vine only has one set of roots, and the whole plant stems from that one source. As branches we are connected to the vine, the true source of life, and we only thrive and bear fruit as long as we are connected to that one source.
If we try to do things by ourselves we disconnect ourselves from the source of life, and we then wither and fade, and cannot bear fruit. Or if we stay connected but try to do everything by ourselves, without the source then we will die on the vine and become useless. If this happens, then God the vine-grower will come prune you, cut you away from the source and throw you into the fiery furnace.
But if you remain on the vine, connected to the source, the vine grower with take great care with you to make sure you have every opportunity to thrive. The word “remain” here is interesting. It comes from the word “meno” and many scholars like Peter Kreeft, have suggested that this word would be more accurately translated as “live with”. The word “remain” has a negative connotation, like “dont go away” but “meno” instead has a positive connotation, like “live in a home” or like the word “abide” from the old king james translation.
And that is the point here, that Jesus wants us to thrive and grow and bear much fruit, but He wants us to do it through and in direct connection with Him, and the life force that His vine provides to all that are part of His body. Not as workers, or subjects, but as part of Him, like the organs of a body make the whole of a person, and are not useful all by themselves. We all can accomplish so much more if we work together as a cohesive unit, rather than trying to do everything on our own rejecting the help of all those around us.
So stay close to the source of life, make sure you frequent the holy sacraments and go to mass weekly. If you do, God the vine grower will care for you, and help you attain the success and happiness you most desire, and you will bear much fruit. What else is there.
