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Gospel: John 15: 1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There are two types of branches that grow on a vine: those that bear fruit and those that wither.
Imagine a withering branch. It’s dark, limp, and slow to die. But even as it withers, that branch demands energy, sapping nutrients from the vine.
I find that a fascinating truth: withering branches take energy to die.
It’s why gardeners must prune them; they steal life from the healthy branches.
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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.”
It’s God’s ardent desire to prune any withering branch in our heart, those that sap our energy but give nothing in return.
Consider things like unhealthy habits, relationships, addictions, or grudges. These things are not fruitful and need to go.
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Do I have a withering branch in my heart, a person, habit, or sin that saps my time and energy without giving me life?
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Although pruning may be painful, it makes us happier, healthier people.
So, will you open our heart and let the Divine Gardener in?
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Image credits: (1) Jesus as Gardener, Willem Van Help (2) Gardening Know How (3) The Spruce