The Word is Pruning Sheers

5th Sunday of Easter YB

Introduction

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Once again, in our Gospel today, we hear Jesus telling his disciples: “ I am the vine; you are the branches, and my Father is the vine grower, who prunes the vine to make it bear much fruit.

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I have damaged and almost ruined a few good trees by pruning them wrong, and I have learned a few tips. First, remove the dried-up branches from a healthy tree. Second, prune the part of the branch above a bud so it gets most of the nutrition. Third, prune the branches to shape the tree, keeping them from twisting into each other at the center and keeping the sunlight from reaching all branches and buds uniformly. It's not an easy task.

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Body

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Jesus tells his disciples they are already pruned because of the word He spoke to them. The Word of God is spiritual pruning sheers in the hands of the Father the Vine Grower who know how to prune perfectly. The Pruning with the Word of God forms and shapes us into the one heart and mind of Jesus Christ. It allows everyone to grow and bear fruit. Jesus says you can do nothing without me. That’s so true. A branch is totally dependent on the vine and the vine grower. A dead branch cannot remove itself, and a live one can not prune itself, it cannot stop the pruning. Yet Jesus tells us to remain in me. A live branch can only respond to light, nourishment from the root, and the pruning, and pruning can become painful, but the Father prunes because the Father loves the Vine, the Father Loves the branches, the Father Loves the Church, and the Father Loves you and me.

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Conclusion

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When conversing with someone and connecting, we say, “Yeah, I hear you.” Jesus calls us to hear him ---through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in all the scriptures, not all Mercy without repentance, not all Love without Truth, and not all Heaven and empty hell. When we hear Jesus in the whole Gospel and respond, and do what he says the best we know how, we are pruned, healed, and nourished by the fruit of the Vine of Jesus Christ himself at the Alter of his sacrifice. Over time, we will grow in virtue, beauty, and happiness by bearing more of the fruits of the Spirit in the joy of the Lord and Glorifying the Father. And if I’m not, I will be on my knees praying and begging for grace to hear and respond to his word. How about you?

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12 Fruits (Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity)