Reflection for the Vigil of the Fifth Sunday of Easter 2009
9 May 2009

by Suzanne Fitzmaurice, OSB

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”

Growing up in the middle of a city, I had very little experience with vines, branches and the fruit that grows on them. I was familiar with the scripture stories and the explanations that various catechists gave to me but it wasn’t until I was living in California and went to Flora Springs Winery in Napa, which was owned by my classmate Julie, that I really began to understand more clearly these stories.

Each grower, I learned, begins by planting vines that are acquired or cloned from other vineyards. The vines are planted in such a way as to give them plenty of sun, not too much water, and something to cling to for support. As the vines mature, the grower chooses the strongest shoot and prunes away all of the other branches. This pruning gives the strongest shoot the room to continue growing and more access to the nutrients available in the soil.

Just as the grower begins the vineyard from the best vines available, God began the vineyard from the best vine available, Christ. From this vine we are then given the support we need to grow tall and strong and the nutrients to bring out the best in who we have the potential to be. The unnecessary laws and teachings have been pruned away, leaving only the words of Christ, the strongest and most life giving nutrient available, giving us all we need to grow. And just as the growers pruning enables the vine to reach up toward the sun and to spread its branches outward, so God’s pruning encourages us to reach up toward his light and to reach out to others.

In tonight’s Gospel, Christ calls us not only to grow, but also to draw strength and nourishment from him and to bear much fruit. “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” We, as branches, are called to bring forth a bountiful harvest. Once again, my experience at the vineyard brought forth a fuller understanding of this call.

Grapes, I learned, take their flavor from the soils and from their exposure to the elements. Any small variation in either of these and the flavor of the grapes can change drastically. As the fruit grows, vine growers check their grapes to measure the Brix or sugar weight. The grower places a few drops of juice onto a refractometer which, using a prism, reacts differently to light depending upon the amount of sugar that is available in the liquid sample. When the Brix reaches a certain number, the grower knows it is time to act and must harvest the grapes immediately or they may become too ripe to be of use.

We too are called to draw our flavor from our exposure to Christ’s teaching and those elements that surround our daily life. Just as the grape’s flavor changes dramatically when there is a change in its environment, so we can change our “flavor” by changing what “soil” we draw our nutrition from and what elements we allow to surround us each day. Over time, we too begin to bear fruit. Just like the grapes, our fruit must reflect back the right amount of light, Christ light. Our fruit must not be too watered down or too strong, its skin must not be too thick or thin, it must have the right amount of sweetness, and it must be balanced. A lot to ask from a small piece of fruit but when this balance is reached; the flavor created brings indescribable joy.

But surprisingly we are reminded that the work does not end there. At the end of each growing season, the vines are once again pruned. “God takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does God prunes so that it bears more fruit.” After the years harvest, over 75% of the previous year’s growth is pruned away so that new growth can occur on the strongest branches. Just as the fruitful branches are pruned each year, we too are continually pruned so that there will be room for new growth each and every day. This drastic pruning back gives us, the branches, the chance to produce even more fruit and a better quality of fruit besides.

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

© 2009 Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas