The Lectionary of this Easter season draws out some of the ‘classic’ gospel passages, particularly some of the discourses from the Gospel of John. Like many ‘famous’ or familiar passages, it can be true that familiarity breeds contempt – we think we are so familiar with the passage that we don’t need to pay it much attention.
At first glance, it appears that there is a certain ruthlessness about the image of the vinedresser pruning the vine: perform or perish! However, the process of cutting away and pruning branches is an incredibly nurturing action; it is removing the unproductive portions of the plant so that the vine has an even better opportunity to produce fruit in the next season. It an act of love; not an act of economic rationalism. Within our own lives we are called to make decisions about which of our thoughts and actions are life-giving (fruit-bearing) and which are unproductive; negative; crippling; life-diminishing. If we are able to ‘prune’ our life-diminishing thoughts and actions we allow ourselves the freedom and the ability to really flourish. Feelings of jealousy, greed, resentment, self-doubt and lack of confidence can limit our ability to be fully alive just as addictive and harmful behaviours can physically take away our ability to perform at our best.
I am reminded of the old Karate Kid movie when the boy, Daniel, is introduced to the art of bonsai. He is told to close his eyes, imagine the perfect tree and then start clipping and shaping the plant to make real the perfection that lies within it. It is only through a process of cutting away and pruning that we can nurture ourselves to realise the beauty
© Greg Sunter
Read more from here Parish Bulletin_28.04.2024
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