“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘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.'”
-John 15:1-2
We live in a world that is infatuated with being connected. It seems that we can go only a short time without a connection to cell service or wi-fi. After a short time of “roughing it” we are headed back to civilization where we can once again be reunited with that sweet, sweet data. One could wonder at where we were even before the advent of the cellphone.
However, with all this connection, and all this concern with remaining connected- are we really connected to what matters? When we are immersed with all sorts of social media feeds, text messages, phone calls, and any other form of information… are we really, truly connected to what matters? Take a glance at the first verse of the Gospel for this weekend- Jesus introduces Himself as the true vine. Why that addition of the word “true?” Could Jesus not have said I am “a vine?” Or even more precisely “the vine?”
If He says the “true” vine- Jesus highlights two particular points. First, connection isn’t optional. Human beings by nature are social: we are designed to connect with others, or with something else. We do not flourish if we are left to be an island. So, we must connect to something, it isn’t an option. Yet, there is more to Jesus’s simple message: He is the true vine. He isn’t just one option amongst others- but He is the one that is actually going to satisfy. He is going to give life. It is only through connection to this vine that we will find true fulfillment.
Yet, that means that we must remove from ourselves whatever impedes that connection, or whatever seeks to threaten to sever the connection with Christ. We are to focus on strengthening that bond. Certainly, we might have to put our phones down for a while, or maybe even turn off the internet and set the laptop aside. Nonetheless, we know that, if we trust Christ fully, then we shall not be disappointed. He will give life.
Even as we seek to be united to Christ, we should not forget the important role of the Church, much like Paul does in the excerpt from the book of Acts, which we hear for the first reading this weekend. He immediately seeks unity with the Church (even though they are a bit taken aback by his sudden conversion). Nonetheless, Paul knows there is more strength in numbers, especially as Christ established His Church to be a source of unity and strength, even here on earth. So, the importance cannot be overstated: we need to be connected, both to Christ and His Church. These connections are foundational to our spiritual well-being, but they also give us the food and nourishment that we need, not only here in this life, but also in the life that is to come.
So, as we continue into this season of new life, in the Season of Easter, let us continue to renew and strengthen our connection to the author of life Himself- and settle for nothing less!
