Abide

“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 15:5

Self-satisfaction is death for the spiritual life.

 

The opposite of self-satisfaction is not self-deprecation. The opposite of self-satisfaction is knowing you depend on the beauty of abiding in Christ. Unity in Christ. We, the branches, depend on being connected to the vine for everything. Everything.

 

I had a conversation yesterday with a parishioner that deeply moved me. This person spoke of being away from the church for decades and then he said that since rediscovering his faith in recent years it is as if God saved the best wine for the last phase of his life. This person had no fear of death. He is somewhat isolated but not alone. He has no fear of politics or the many concerns that can occupy our minds; no fear of priests being moved, only a deep sense of unity in Christ. His joy was found in simply abiding in Christ.

 

This is the fruit of abiding in Christ. This is the seat of the mission of the Church – abiding in Christ. This is why our pastor speaks about encounter with Christ as the key to everything in the spiritual life. It is foundational. Jesus is the vine; the branches need the vine. We are the branches; Jesus is the vine.

 

Now comes the difficult part of this teaching of Jesus. The process of pruning removes not only the lifeless branches but some of the living branches. Some of places where there is still life, but inhibiting the overall production of fruit for the whole vine. This is indeed a difficult teaching and also a difficult challenge for those of us in church leadership. 

 

We must abide in Christ. It’s the only way through this period of parish transition. It is the only way through life. We should expect to be pruned, it’s a necessary process of abundance.

 

Don’t slip into self-deprecation because you are being pruned. There’s no health in self-loathing. Likewise, don’t slip into self-satisfaction when the fruit begins to appear in abundance. Stay connected to the vine. Abide in Christ. 

 

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” -John 15:8