A Reflection--Vine and Branches (John 15:1-8)

"I am the vine, you are the branches." John 15:5

The Gospel reading for the Mass on Wednesday, April 23rd was John 15:1-8. When the deacon proclaimed this passage and our pastor commented on it, two sentences struck me: "I am the true vine, my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit."

As an amateur gardener I've learned early on that many plants are much more productive when they are pruned--some won't produce flowers or fruit if they aren't pruned. Though plants are a lower form of life and I suspect they do not experience pain as animals and humans do; I do believe they experience some sort of stimulus when they are pruned.

Reflecting on what Jesus is stating above, I pondered we all have crosses to bear in our life. May these "crosses" provide an opportunity for a gift of pruning by our loving "Vine Grower", The Father, so that we don't get all tangled up in the "unimportant" and be fruitless; but rather adhere in a closer bond with His Son, "The Vine", so that we produce the fruit we are on this earth to produce?