Then the Spirit said to Phillip, "Go over
to his chariot and join it." So Phillip ran up to it and heard him reading
the prophet Isaiah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are
reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides
me?" [Acts 8:29-31a]
The
poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him:
"May your heart live for ever!"...My soul shall live for him... [Psalm
22:25, 29a]
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in the world.
[1
John 4:16b-17]
Jesus
said to his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch
that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit...Just as the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you
unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches." [John
15:1-2, 4b-5a]
Spring is in full bloom in this part of the globe. The weekend cacophony of
lawn mowers, weed trimmers, ATVs, and skateboards rises with the temperature.
Gardeners are happily filling their wheeled carts with soil, compost, and
mulch, cleaning away the debris of winter, preparing the earthen beds for
planting, and pruning shrubs, bushes, and trees.
Every gardener, even one with a single small plant, knows that good
growth requires maintenance. Some plants, such as a grapevine or an apple tree,
need pruning to make them stronger and able to produce more and better fruit.
Along with water, sunshine, and good soil, a gardener must constantly tend the
pots, rows, fields, or orchards with care. Knowledge of weather, season, and
region or growing zones climate is essential.
As a gardener watches for signs of growth as well as of
decline, we must constantly tend our relationship with Christ, finding ways to
be more intentional about the spiritual growth of our souls, and, awareness of
our distractions that lead to neglect. The First Letter of John reminds us that
when we believe the love God has for us through Jesus our Savior, God’s love is
then perfected in us. It is with that perfected love within that we become the gardeners
for growing God’s Kingdom on Earth.
In the Gospel of John for this week, Jesus
tells us that he is the true vine and that God is the vinegrower. Jesus calls
us to abide in him as he abides in us, joined to him as branches on the vine.
We will bear much fruit if we seek to prune our inner deadwood to clear the way
for new spiritual sprouting. But the fruit we bear is not for our own care and
feeding ~ it is to be shared with others for their nurture and growth. As
we, the branches, grow stronger, we draw together as brothers and sisters in a
community of faith, hope, and eternal love in and with Christ as our Vine, the
Holy Spirit as our Guide to understanding, and God Almighty as our ultimate
Gardener/Vinegrower. Even if Autumn is the new season where you are, there is
always much to do to prepare your inner garden for the winter ahead. Whatever
the season, we find our strength in Christ who keeps our souls rooted to
produce the fruit of the Divine for us all.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Jesus,
Abundant Vine of Life, prepare our souls as the fertile soil that will bring
forth the harvest of Your love and peace. Teach us to see, know, and nourish
all people as our brothers and sisters, companion branches in God’s Holy
Vineyard.
Infinite, Abiding Lord
RESPONSE: Guide us to perfect love
~
Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, transform our
complacence into compassion and ignite desire and courage within us to stand in
faith and act together, for all who are denied justice and basic humanity,
across this world and at national and local levels. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Infinite, Abiding Lord
Guide
us to perfect love
~
Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, comfort and heal all
who are poor in health and spirit, and grant energy to all who give them
care. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
Infinite, Abiding Lord
Guide
us to perfect love
~
Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, fill us with praise
and gladness and hope as the souls of those we love and sent ahead now
live again, sheltered in eternity by Your forever Heart. We pray
especially for… add your own petitions
Infinite, Abiding Lord
Guide
us to perfect love
~
Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
Infinite, Abiding Lord
Guide
us to perfect love
~
Jesus, Abundant Vine of Life, bless all who give
their lives in service to Your Church, and walk with us through sometimes
fallow fields and barren orchards, as we seek the joy in knowing You are with
us now in this brief life and forever in the next. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Infinite, Abiding Lord
Guide
us to perfect love
The Celebrant adds: Living God, Eternal
Vinegrower, prune detachment and sin from our hearts to cultivate strong,
dynamic, and fruitful branches that flourish, not wither, as we abide always in
You. We ask this through Jesus, our True and Perfect Vine; and the Holy
Spirit, our Wisdom Guide; who together with You, live and reign as One God
forever and ever. Amen.
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