What Needs to Be Pruned? John 15: 1-8 May 1, 2005, Year A, 6th Sunday in Easter The Rev. William V. Livingston, Rector Church of the Resurrection, Starkville, Mississippi "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit." In today's johannine text we encounter another of Jesus' "I am" sayings - his final "I am" saying as a matter of fact, said in context of his last meal with his followers. Like his parables, Jesus used "I am" sayings to offer insight into either the unknown or into simple things - perhaps so simple that we take them for granted and fail to even see them. While the parables required more elaborate stories with situations and characters, the "I am" sayings were succinct one or two word phrases - images, if you will - used with the same intent as the parables: to help the hearer better know God, Jesus himself, or what it means to be one of his disciples. Today's "I am" saying offers us insight into all three: God, Jesus, being a disciple. However, as with his parables and his other "I am" sayings, it was addressed to a first century Palestinian audience who would have knowledge of his images. Thus, his vine image most probably refers to grape vines. I don't know about you, but I have very little experience with grape vines. As a matter of fact my only experience with grape vines has been as a child growing up in Vicksburg and finding large wild grape vines hanging from trees in the woods behind my house. When we found such vines growing at the top of a hill or next to a ravine, we would sever them at the ground and like Tarzan, take a running start, and use the vine to swing across the ravine. Today, wild grape vines are merely one of the weeds I try to keep out of my yard. Perhaps for today, a vine that offers more insight into Jesus' vine trope may be a tomato vine. I love to grow things and would love to have a vegetable garden. However, with my limited time available for gardening, I seldom grow more than tomatoes. One growing season a few years ago, I planted several tomato vines, choosing a sunny, well drained spot and added fertilizer. My schedule being more hectic than usual, I barely had time to water them. Despite my lack of care, I had large, lush green tomato vines, however, spring and summer passed without these beautiful green vines producing a single tomato. You tomato growers out there know what I failed to do. Okay, go ahead and tell me. Yes, I failed to remove the suckers: those extra branches that grow in the forks of stems. If not removed, the plant puts all its resources into growing these lush green branches and not into producing fruit. "Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit." Without the vinegrower pruning off the suckers, the vines produce lush plants but no tomatoes. Let it never be said that God doesn't have a sense of humor. As I allowed this week's text to ferment in my thoughts and prayers and how to preach on it, Diane and I had a conversation with our youngest son, Lee. As we neared the end of our call, Lee asked, "Well, do you want to hear the latest development in my future plans?" Actually, no, I didn't. You see, when Lee calls and says, "Hey, Dad. I just want to run something by you", my first response is panic because it's going to involve a major change and a change that I'd never make. And, I knew this would be no exception, and it wasn't. Lee informed us he had given notice of his plans to quit his job as youth director for a church in Austin: a decision he has contemplated for a while. He has considered many alternatives, and all along I have reminded him how well he is being paid and has health insurance and other good benefits, and I have coached not leaving what he has until he has something better to replace it. However, he informed us that he is simply quitting and doesn't have another job. I was about to offer my usual sage parental advice based on making safe choices and plotting out a predictable future. Before I could, he said he needs time with no encumbrances of material things and that he was going to give up his lease, store or give away most of his possessions and quit doing what he was doing simply because it looked good to others and provided a good income. He said he was doing so to allow God to direct him to how best use his life. Before I could say, "Are you crazy?", a voice came from somewhere saying, "Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit." I didn't say anything. Is Lee making this change to allow God to prune? Only God and Lee know, and only time will tell. I only hope and pray so. I find irony in that today we are acknowledging our graduating seniors. To these graduates, I encourage you to study today's johannine text. The world you are venturing into will encourage you to have lush green vines and will really care less whether you bear fruit. As we continue our journey through the 50 days of Easter, our text reminds us as Resurrected People that only through Jesus do we find life. That life - both our corporate life as a parish and our life as individuals - is not meant to produce the lush green foliage our culture finds so attractive but to bear fruit. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit." Are you a branch? Do you have life and have it abundantly? If not, Jesus invites you to be grafted, to be attached to that source of life that will nourish and feed you. "Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit." For most of us, it is not a matter of not being grafted to the vine. We have a relationship with Jesus. The question is "Are we bearing fruit and what must be pruned so that we do?" We all need some pruning. It may be letting go of material things that supercede our relationship with God or with bearing fruit. It may be stepping away from an unhealthy relationship or life choices. It may be being freed from our arrogance and false sense of control. How has God pruned the Church of the Resurrection in the last 5 years and what new fruit has it produced? How has God pruned your life in the past 5 years? How has God gotten your attention, bringing to you an awareness of the profoundness of God's love? Do you have lush green growth that others admire and envy, or are you bearing fruit? What in your life still needs to be pruned? "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit." Outside our doors is a world that is hungry and thirsty and needs to be grafted to the vine. Go and bear some fruit.