Morning Prayer
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences – Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-87)
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Resist every kind of evil.
Morning reading
John 15:1-6 ESV:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. 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. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
Reflections:
The main point of the image of vine and branches is clear enough: the intimate union of believers with Jesus. The disciple’s very life depends on this union. As branches, believers either bear fruit and are pruned to bear more fruit or do not bear fruit and are thrown away and burned – all the details have significance.
new people of God
When Jesus refers to himself as the true vine he is once again taking an image for Israel and applying it to himself. Jesus himself is true Israel. This claim corresponds to his break with the temple at the end of chapter 8 and his forming a renewed people that began in chapter 9 and came clearly to the fore in chapter 10. Israel’s place as the people of God is now taken by Jesus and his disciples, the vine and its branches. This is not a rejection of Judaism as such, but its fulfillment in its Messiah.
The identification of the people of God with a particular nation is now replaced with a particular man who incorporates in himself the new people of God composed of Jews and non-Jews.
bear fruit for God
The new community has been established and now must bear fruit for God. However, among Jesus’ disciples, there are those who bear fruit and those who do not.
What is this fruit? Converts, Christian character – but underlying both is the possession of the divine life itself and especially the chief characteristics of that life, knowledge of God and love. Jesus says when they bear much fruit they demonstrate that they are his disciples. Love is the evidence that one is a disciple and is in union with God and with one another. The image of fruit symbolizes that which is at the heart of both Christian witness and ethics — union with God.
separation from God
Separation from God, the source of all light and life and love, is the essence of all judgment. The ones who are so judged in this passage are those who have refused to remain in Christ. They have rejected Jesus and thereby turned their backs on God and thus life itself. Their former intimacy with Jesus, such as it was, makes their rejection all the more worthy of judgment.
“How a man can be `in Christ,’ and yet afterwards separate himself from Him, is a mystery neither greater nor less than that involved in the fall of a creature created innocent” (Westcott).
The believer’s assurance is not in the decision to follow Jesus, but in the graciousness and faithfulness of the Father and the Son. Though God allows us to reject him, his own disposition toward us is love, a love that continues to pursue even those who reject him. Those who are worried about the assurance of their salvation should find comfort in the character and actions of God. Our fretting over ourselves is itself a preoccupation with self that must be pruned away, for it inhibits our relation with God, our bearing of the fruit of eternal life.
pruned by God
The disciples certainly believe Jesus is come from God. And, even more obvious is their love for Jesus, mostly evidenced in their willingness to lay down their lives for him. That they came to Jerusalem is evidence of this willingness. They are not yet capable of such love when things get bleak, but at least they have the desire to be loyal. Their humility in accepting Jesus, even though this willingness is weaker than they realize, manifests the love that is crucial for remaining in Jesus.
They still have much in their lives that is not in keeping with the life of God. Such false growths need to be pruned away so God’s eternal life might grow and increase in their lives. Part of the good news is that the Father undertakes such pruning in the life of each disciple. The discipline may be painful as the life of self and rebellion is cut away, but the result will be untold blessing for the disciple and for others through him or her. The Father’s pruning is for the sake of growth, which suggests the eternal life is a very dynamic reality.
life in God
Jesus stresses the impossibility of producing this fruit apart from him. People are able to produce much without God, including converts, good deeds and even prophesies, exorcisms and miracles (cf. Mt 7:22-23; Ridderbos). But the divine life such as we see in Jesus is dependent on God’s own character, power and guidance at work in the life of the disciple. Jesus did not will nor speak nor act from himself; neither is the branch capable of bearing fruit “from itself”. Hence Jesus’ command to remain in me.
The Father prunes and cleanses, and the Son has cleansed by his word, showing the Son’s oneness with the Father (cf. Chrysostom). But the disciples themselves must make an effort to remain. Remaining is not simply believing in him, though that is crucial, but includes being in union with him, sharing his thoughts, emotions, intentions and power. In a relationship both parties must be engaged. The divine must take the initiative and provide the means and the ability for the union to take place, but it cannot happen without the response of the disciple.
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Canticle:
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 