15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³ You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

I like gardening imagery and metaphors. Plants need roots and a stem/vine, to support leaves/fruit. Faith can be compared to a plant. We rely on God’s nourishment and the connection Christ has instituted in our lives. We abide in Christ and Christ abides in us. We are bound together. Jesus is our lifeline. We are fed with God’s word and nourished by the Holy Spirit. As the outer growth of the plant, we rely on the nourishment and energy infused in us through the roots and stem.

The image also works for the church as both local expressions of the Body of Christ and the Church universal. All those outer branches and leaves are interconnected and stem from one vine. All expressions of Christ’s church are fed by the Holy Spirit. Individually, each leaf may seem miniscule, but together they form a canopy. Likewise, each believer is integrated into the larger Body of Christ and together we form a canopy of blessing to the world.

Plants have life cycles. Spring brings new life – budding trees, blooming bulbs, sprouting seeds – all around us. It is also a reminder of the new life God gives us in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) This also rings true for both individuals and communities alike.

You are in Christ. You are a new creation. This transformation occurs over and over throughout your life as a disciple. God is always forgiving and raising you up to new life. It is in that new life that we move forward, always trusting the power and mercy of God present and active in our own lives and in our communities. You are rooted in the love of God – now and forever. Amen.