ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET

Easter V, 2006.

Fr Ivan Aquilina

The Maccabees, those Jews who fought at a great price to maintain the Jewish culture against new influences, chose the image of the vine when they struck their own coinage. In the Old Testament Israel is likened to a vine many times. In the temple, at the time of Jesus, a golden vine was to be found in front of the Holy Place. Devout Jews made sure to add gold bunches of grapes to it, those not so rich at least one grape. Vineyards were very common, and still are, in the Holy Land. At the time of Jesus the idea of likening Israel to a vine was very popular. So when Jesus spoke the words we read in today’s gospel he was sharing an image familiar to their landscape and that had symbolic meaning which was easily understood.

What is Jesus saying? Jesus is using the theological language used in his time to describe the People of Israel. God is the vinedresser, the one who makes the vine what it is and looks after it. The vinedresser guarantees a plentiful life to his vine. Jesus points out that it is all about God really; he planted the vineyard and he nurtures it. The teaching from Jesus today is simple yet so profound. We are who we are because God the Father took the first step; not only that but he tenderly and affectionately looks after us his people. However the vine grows and produces it is in response to this loving and affectionate care that it receives from God.

In this gospel Jesus introduces a very important shift in the Hebrew understanding. Israel is not the vine any more, it is part of it. Jesus applies this image for himself: “I am the real vine.” Jesus is collecting in himself the People of the Promise. United with him on the Cross the eligibility to this people is extended for all those who respond to God’s call and enter into his fellowship. The sacred space created by God’s love is wide enough and rich enough to accommodate all. Let us not forget that this discourse happens during the Last Supper. The invitation to sit around the table and drink the fruit of the vine is open to all people. Just as God the “I am”, chose a people for himself so now Jesus the fullness of revelation of “I am” extends to all the invitation to be part of this people. As Scripture says: “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture”.

This gospel speaks directly to us, the new people of God. By these words Jesus is showing the kind of life that we are to live by.

The eight verses in our gospel can be divided in two parts. The first five verses speak about abiding in Jesus whilst the other three speak about the results of not abiding or of abiding in Jesus.

What do we understand by the word abide? Taken at common value this word means to live with. It is sharing something with someone like a flat mate in which there is a degree of intimacy. In this context it is far more than that. It is sharing intimacy itself. When Jesus was using the image of vine he was pointing out to our life with him. We abide in him when we share with him the intimacy of our life and his life. Just as the bunch of grapes is totally dependant on the vine so we are totally dependant on Jesus. This intimacy is not inward looking and exclusive but we are to be generous and secure enough to have others join in this intimacy, to sit at the table and drink the fruit of the vine, to be part of the vine itself. We are fully grafted into this vine through the Easter Sacrament of baptism.
When we share this life of intimacy with Jesus, the Father does the pruning and the looking after, this process of cleansing happens in us when we listen carefully to the words of Jesus and live them. This pruning will guarantee much fruit; it gives life and life in all its fullness. Even if like Peter we distance ourselves from Jesus there is always space for re-grafting in this vine by the process of continual turning to Christ, especially through the Sacrament of Confession.

If we do not abide in Christ, if we do not share his love, we are good for nothing, just like the wood of the vine is good for nothing. If we are sharing this intimacy with Christ than God will pour upon us the refreshing water of the Holy Spirit, he will make us fruitful; he will fulfil and give sense to our lives. The Spirit that gives fruitfulness enables us like Philip in the first reading to bring others to Christ in this fullness of joyful life. The Spirit that guarantees this eternal and loving union with God in Christ enables us not only to proclaim the love of God and live in love with each other but brings us to the fullness of life in God – the fulfilment of our existence. As St Augustine said: “Our hearts are troubled until they rest in Thee”.