I am the vine ... John 15:1-8

John 15:1-8  Gospel reading for Sunday May 6th 2012

 The vineyard metaphor.

Most of us at some point in our lives have probably dabbled enough in gardening to know the underlying fundamental importance of pruning. Living in the Barossa Valley on a property that is surrounded by vineyards that are meticulously tended by our neighbours, it is easy to appreciate the richness of the vineyard metaphor from this week's reading.

While the reading talks about fruitfulness, we learn from wine production experts, that it is not simply about abundance of fruit. While most vineyards in the Barossa these days are irrigated, for some generations it has been known that fruit produced under controlled moisture and even some degree of moisture-stress will produce far more intense colours tastes and aromas.

While careful pruning certainly encourages fresh new growth each year, it certainly is not about the quantity. The detail involved in producing some of the premium quality, limited release wine is incredible. In some cases for example, bunch pruning is even practiced, where the bottom third of each bunch is removed to enhance the overall quality of the fruit!

John's vineyard imagery in chapter 15 gives us some fascinating insight into how God works with us. Note that God the Father himself does the pruning! To achieve premium quality fruit requires an intricate, continuous, persistent, sometimes even painful process (of God working in us) ... after all, is it not this rich, limited release, top-shelf fruit that God delights in bringing out in us?

An important question for us is ... Are we more concerned with fruitfulness (quality of fruit) or success (quantity of fruit)?

Genuine fruitfulness and premium quality fruit comes out of the grace of God, whereas mass-produced volume of fruit may be the result of more humanistic efforts and thinking.

PRAYER: Lord as the gardener in charge of the vine of our life, we pray that you would work in us as you see fit, in order to produce only high-quality premium reserve standard fruit!

Nev

(It is difficult to put into words the privilege that we (my wife and I) have year round to be able to observe the vineyard metaphor unfolding before our eyes. They say a picture is like a 1000 words - so I couldn't resist the temptation to add another "4000 words", sourced from the front steps of our hideaway in the heart of the Barossa!)

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