Monday, September 27, 2010

September 27 – The Life of the Vine




When we see leaf, flower, and fruit on the branch, we know with certainty that the vine lives. All the “show” may be in the branch, but the “tell” comes from the vine. The tree may be old and largely decayed, the stump may appear more dead than alive, but if there hangs a cluster on the branch, the vine lives.

In our case, the vine is life and health, even unto eternity. Pruning comes to the branches, which then provide fruit . . . more fruit . . . much fruit . . . and FRUIT THAT REMAINS. No earthly vine can accomplish that latter part, but do, when we bear fruit by the Spirit of God.

How do we do it? We “cultivate” nearness. Apart from the vine, we can do nothing, yet how often have we tried to bring forth by branch power, branch anger, branch management and wound up with a barren branch?

We do much better to do what we’re good at . . . branches that remain in the vine bear fruit. Jesus tells us just how it is done:

“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what ye will and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) Fruit comes forth in prayer, and the one who abides in Jesus, with Jesus’ Word abiding in Him, knows the fruitfulness of answered prayer. But there is more . . .

“As the Father has loved me SO HAVE I LOVED YOU; CONTINUE IN MY LOVE.” The life of the vine is rooted in the most healthy, the most vital love of the Father. When our Cor Unum life is planted there, we will a fruitful cloister . . . or cluster, if you will.



Dubrovnik,
Convent of St. Francis,
Joan, by permission

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