Sermon for May 6, 2012 ~ Easter 5

 

John 15:1-8

Just in case you are visiting today, please know that we don't usually have a blackberry vine wrapped around the table up at the front here.  The purpose for having this here is, of course, to get your attention.  I think it has worked.

 

In the Gospel reading we heard Jesus talk about the vine, the vine grower, the branches and the fruit.  He too is trying to get our attention.  Maybe God, faith, spirituality… all that sort of thing is much more living, or organic, than we have ever thought.  What is Jesus trying to say?

 

The Vine

 

Blackberry vines are everywhere.  I went out on the Parkway Trail and found this one. It was wild and full of life.  It has thorns, so you have to think twice about getting too close. It is likely that there will be pain in association with this vine.  But the other day I saw a small rabbit escape a much larger dog by taking refuge in its brambles.  Pain, refuge, fruit – there is a lot to consider here.

 

I took a side path when I was walking the trail and that led had me into deeper into the woods.  I walked along for a few minutes and realized that there are no vines in the dark.  The vine must have the light.  In fact, as you all know it grows rapidly in our climate, but it seeks the light.  When these vines come up in the spring, stalks go straight up and then begin to lean over – all the time reaching, reaching – going over and through and around obstacles like rocks and sidewalks and trees.  The vine always reaches…

 

This one is 6 or 7 meters long.  I had to work at getting it out from between branches over my head in a small tree.  The stalk was strongly rooted, the vine went overhead through a tree and the opposite tip touched the ground.  To my surprise, it rooted there starting another plant. 

 

On the vine are the branches, and as Jesus notes, on the branches in a few months, we will find the fruit.  It is all organic, interconnected and naturally works that way.  Jesus' words come to mind: I am the vine and you are the branches.

 

This plant is hard to destroy.  It comes back.  It keeps coming back. Like the grape vines in Jesus' day, blackberry vines have always been here and probably always will.  So, with assurance and experience, we can say that the vine will never leave us nor forsake us.

 

Farewell Discourse

 

This reading is part of a longer speech that Jesus was making after his last meal with his disciples.  He was preparing them for life "after" the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension – just like the time we live in.  They would have a lot going against them in the following days: uncertainty, fear, distress, the group would be tempted to break up …. Or they could have faith – something Jesus was always trying to teach them about when he spoke of dying for their sins and living for their future.

 

He mentions the vine and branches and fruit – that "organic" example, and then tells them to "abide" in him.  That is: remain connected.  How does that work when you can no longer see the one you want to be with?   Jesus assures them that his words, his message and his Spirit remain.  As they trust this promise – he is present – strong and reaching and moving them to the light.  But as they face tough times they need to remember that life is always in the plural.  They are branches "together" connected by the vine.

 

One of the many things that I learned from prisoners over the years is how they find hope for the future.  The elements of success are: learning to care for another and to be cared about; leaving behind or dealing with what takes away from life (like drugs, unresolved issues, violence); being accountable to someone else (life is more than me); and, living in positive community.  Life in a positive community helps everything else to flow.

 

Disciples are urged to "stick together."  We find our Lord by putting our lives into his words and promises – trusting that he is still present where he said that he would be: at the water, in the bread and wine, in promises that call us away from our fears.  With each other, the disciples found the courage to trust the Lord they could not see.  How about us?

 

Organic Faith

 

Just like for gardening and horticulture, there are libraries filled with books and opinions about the Christian faith.  The goal of it all is to bring forth life, to know what to avoid, and to experience abundance that gives hope and helps others live.  Faith is not experienced in a book, but in the organic connection with others.

 

Faith is by nature alive and shows up in all kinds of ways and places.  Like branches of the vine we are all over the place sharing our little bit of God's life for others – just like blackberries.  I have had all kinds of blackberry fruit: jam, pies, desserts, wine; and I have seen so much of your fruit: giving of your resources, visiting the lonely, having time for others, standing for justice, being witnesses to a risen and loving Lord.

 

Jesus calls the vine grower "my Father," who is the final caretaker.  Sometimes there is damage or a pest – and plants are tended accordingly.  Healing, forgiveness or aggressive pruning may be required.  He removes the scrub, he clears the paths.  That is not our worry.  In some cases the vines run their natural life cycle and simply wither and die… they have born their fruit and there is no tragedy in a life fully lived.  And new plants follow.  It is all organic.  Just like our lives in so many ways.

 

We are created.  We have space to grow.  We can reach out to others.  Like the disciples in the story, we can stick together and offer the fruit of our forgiven and redeemed lives to this world. 

Just like you do today.

 

It's just like Jesus and the blackberry vine teaches.

 

Amen.