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. The birds and local , migrating and local, the bird empty the hanging
feeders with amazing speed.
Every gardener,
even one with a single small plant, knows that good growth requires
maintenance. Some plants, such as grapevines or fruit trees, 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 and climate
growing zones is essential. The occasional frost warning creates a hurrying to protect
still fragile plants for the next few weeks or longer.
As a gardener
watches for signs of growth as well as of decline, we too, must constantly tend
our relationship with Christ, finding ways to be more intentional about the
spiritual growth of our souls, and, awareness of the overgrowth of the weeds of
our distractions that lead us to the neglect of our inner growth and outer
practice.
The First Letter of John reminds us that when we believe that 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 vine grower. Jesus calls us to abide in him as he abides in us,
joined to him as His 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 spirit-filled nurturing 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. And the Holy Spirit is our constant Wisdom Guide through the sometimes fallow fields and barren orchards, in droughts and and flood and destructive fires. God Almighty as our ultimate Gardener/Vine
grower gives us a continuous 24-hour Living Guide to Creation if we choose to see. 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 environmental justice, and for all who are denied
economic, racial, and every justice issue for basic human need
and respect that is refused, 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 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 even 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 Vine Grower, 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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