Pruned to Bear Fruit

Homily: Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)

John 15:1-8

2 May 2021 

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez, AA 

After he survived COVID 19, a priest-friend declared that he is “born again” and has resolved not to smoke again. After battling a severe case of Covid, another friend vowed to be more diligent and consistent in maintaining health protocols to protect herself from Covid such as taking a shower as soon as she arrives from work. After losing her job because of the pandemic, another friend decided to simplify her lifestyle by focusing only on the essentials.  It wasn’t easy for my friends to change the way they were accustomed to living but it was necessary if they wanted to survive this pandemic. 

Last Sunday, we talked about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This Sunday’s gospel reading speaks about another familiar image of Jesus as the Vine. All who follow Jesus are branches that must be connected to Him always. He says, “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.”  (John 15:4) One thing that catches my attention is the fact that it is not enough that we remain attached to the vine because we are expected to bear much fruit! That is a consequence that is so much desired that the Father, Himself, as Vine Grower, personally takes on the responsibility of pruning every branch attached to Jesus. He cuts away what does not bear fruit so the branch withers and dies whereas he prunes further the fruit bearing branches so they bear even more fruit. 

Throughout the pandemic, so many have taken up the hobby of caring for plants at home. Some grow vegetables, others, ornamental and flowering plants. Any serious “plantito” or “plantita” would have learned that one essential rule in plant care for proper plant growth is pruning. Every gardener knows that a plant can become overgrown if not properly pruned. This process involves cutting away not just the dead leaves and branches, or diseased  parts of plants but sometimes also healthy parts — parts that are just starting to blossom or develop but in areas where they shouldn’t. The presumption here is that the gardener has a plan for the plant, based on his knowledge and expertise. First, he will ascertain that the plant will grow into the ideal shape or contour and size.  And second, he will not allow the richness of the the soil and fertilizers to be wasted on overgrowing parts. He will trim it to what is necessary so the plant can utilize the nutrients for the desired functions such as bearing flowers and fruits. 

Similarly, as followers of Jesus, we are also in need of pruning to make us more fruitful. Throughout the past year, I have read reflections from people that make me believe the pandemic is a way of pruning us. We have come to realize what is essential in life — good health, family, a cohesive community and a strong spiritual life. I know of ladies who were compulsive shoppers who now question their behavior as they look upon all the shoes, bags, accessories and clothes they’ve amassed which they don’t even get to wear anymore because they are stuck at home in their dusters and lounge wear. I know of young people who’ve collected luggage, coats and jackets and snow gear for trips abroad who have stored away their things, realizing they are unnecessary for living in  our tropical climate. Just yesterday, a mechanic revealed they’ve had very few clients over the past year because vehicles have less wear and tear and don’t need as much maintenance. The travel restrictions have kept people at home and their numerous vehicles parked in garages. These days, people are simply grateful to be alive and to be connected with loved ones. All the time spent before amusing ourselves at the malls, at the movies, resorts and spas, or travelling for leisure, we now spend at home with our familes… eating together, talking with each other, doing chores together or simply spending time in prayer with family. More people have learned to pick up their Bibles, made time for personal prayer or listening to spiritual talks online and attending livestream masses at home. It is this awareness of our common situation, that has allowed us to see the suffering of others, motivating us to do something to help them. This period has been difficult for all of us but it has allowed us to bear fruit in terms of nourishing our souls and sharing of ourselves for the good of others. Jesus reminds us that “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Jesus does not leave all the pruning to the Vine Grower. He says that His followers are to be pruned continuously by HIS WORD. We are shaped by Jesus’ word to become the faithful disciples God intends us to be. Just as the pruning of the plant involves cutting away parts of it,  the pruning-words of Jesus can sometimes be painful for us especially when His teachings are very difficult to accept and comply with.  They hurt especially when through them we are challenged to give up some “good things” we enjoy but which may be harmful to us such as our vices which not only contribute to the destruction of our bodies, our spirit, but also of important relationships we have in life. It is only when we allow ourselves to be corrected for our bad behaviour and challenged to be less self-centered and instead more generous towards others that we can say that we have subjected ourselves to pruning for our future growth and fruitfulness. Heeding the words of Jesus and taking them to heart is not without its reward. Jesus says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:7-8)

In the hands of a gardener, an overgrown and diseased plant can certainly be brought back to life with proper care and pruning. In the First Reading (Acts 9:26-31), we note that when Saul came back to the group of the apostles in Jerusalem, they refused to have anything to do with him, because of his reputation. It was hard for others to believe that he would ever have a change of heart after having been a rabid persecutor of Christians. Saul found out the hard way how difficult it is to escape the consequences of his mistakes in life. I would say this was a continuing experience of pruning for Saul.  The pruning began on the road to Damascus when he was knocked off his feet by the voice of Jesus asking: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) This episode trimmed off the aspect of his life that did not allow him to grow into the person he was meant to be. It started to fashion him for evangelization and as we know, he bore much fruit and became the most effective apostle to the Gentiles. Still, Paul had to live with his past. In humility, he writes in Philippians 3:13 that he has to forget the past and press on to what lies ahead. This is not to forget simply for the sake of forgetting but rather coming to terms with the past, learning from it in order to move on and recommit oneself to becoming better in the present. 

In this sense, the Risen Life we all have been given through baptism is a continuous invitation to a life in union with God. We note that in the gospel passage we are told five times to bear fruit and eight times to remain in Jesus. Repetition in the Bible is meant to emphasize the importance of the message. We are being told how vital it is for us to live in love always. (It is different from falling in love or being in love). A life in love is a life with Jesus and for Jesus — not only expressed in word and speech but also in deed and truth (1 John 3:18), as the Second Reading instructs us. It is to remain always a part of Christ as the branches remain connected to the Vine in order to bear fruit. Again, the Second Reading tells us: “This is how we shall know that we belong to the truth.” (1 John 3:19)

As we strive to remain connected to the vine, we open ourselves to be trained, to be disciplined, to be “pruned” by the Vine Grower and by the Word of Jesus to make us fruitful and productive disciples in God’s vineyard.