Jesus was a very good observer. We see almost all the parables and stories Jesus told were connected with the life of the people in his time. He could meditate on the happening surrounding him and really connect them to the kingdom of God and the Good news. Since I am in this German parish, I have the chance to watch the works of in a vineyard as my room is surrounded by acres of vineyards. The distance from my house to oldest vineyard in Germany is less than 100 meters.
In these days I can watch how quick the branches are growing and getting green leaves. (After the winter one may not see any leaves on the branches).
Here the Vintners have their own methods in the cultivation.
When the grapes are collected, they keep only two healthy branches on each vine. All other braches will be pruned. These two branches will grow soon in those months when it is warm enough and there will be again small branches. After some months the vintner will cut down the week branches again.
When there are grapes, the vintner will repeatedly remove unnecessary branches and leaves from the vine.
In the first year, this was very strange to me till I cleared my doubts:
This is to concentrate the strength of the grapes.
The vintner had to do this, if they want a good harvest.
Just as we hear in the Gospel passage of this Sunday.
The interesting point in the parable of Vine and the branches is that there is a vintner who cuts the branches. He cannot be soft-hearted or merciful and allow the whole branches to grow. This may cause only a disorder and disaster to the cultivation. There will be no enough grapes in these vine or they will be not that good in quantity and quality.
The parable tells with out any mercy that there should be some order in the life, just as the vine branches are being treated.
Jesus has a special instrument for the purification:
“You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you”, yes it is his Word.
From the first reading we hear about the converted Saulus –the one who was pruned by the Word of God. Once he was very proud of his origin as his name mentions: Saulus means “the sublime”, “prayed for”.
Now the “encounter with Jesus” made him “Brother Saul (Paul)” or the servant of Christ and the Apostle of the gentiles.
He was least bothered about his sublime Jewish tradition.
He concentrated only on his mission for Jesus.
St Paul remained in his life so close to Jesus and that produced fruits.
Jesus asks us to remain with him. He promises his presence with us.
Whether I am remaining related to Jesus?
Whether I am bringing the corresponding fruits in my life?
Or do I have some obstacles, which trouble me to bring up the real fruits?
In the second reading of letter to John we hear, “let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth“- its meaning is very clear and suiting to the Gospel. It is not the superficial matters, but the spirit behind our actions is very important and it is counted. What we are doing, what comes out of our life should relate to Jesus.
We are blessed if we can sing along with the psalmist:
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend all who go down into the dust.
And to him my soul shall live; my descendants shall serve him.
(Ps 22, 27-30)
We are blessed, if our lives are remaining and growing in the living vine of Jesus and generating fruits fitting to his Spirit. God Bless us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
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