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I’m not much of a gardener, but I do know this: There are two types of branches – those that are fruitful and those that wither.
Withering branches are the dark, limp ones. They must be pruned, because they demand energy from the vine.
Even as they die.
It’s a fascinating truth: withering branches demand energy to die.
It’s why the healthiest plants are pruned; gardeners only keep the fruitful branches in order to preserve the life of the plant.
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In the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit.”
Meaning, the Lord prunes those withering branches in our hearts, those that drain us, those that sap our energy, those that are not bearing fruit.
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Think of how much energy it takes to hold a grudge, for example. That anger is unhealthy; it saps our energy.
Yet grudges can be terribly difficult to let go of, which is why we need God’s help. We need him to prune us.
Or think of how heavy grief can be, especially without faith. It makes us close in on ourselves. Or the toll greed, selfishness, and pride can take on a person’s relationships.
Every so often, even a healthy Christian heart needs pruning. Perhaps we all do after this extended period of lockdown and self-quarantining.
What branches – what areas of my life – are not bearing fruit? Where do I need to be pruned?
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At times being pruned is painful and humbling. Think of the humility it takes to ask for forgiveness.
But the Lord, the Divine Gardener, only makes us holier, happier people; people that bear lasting fruit.
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