Browsing Homilies

5th Sunday in Easter

Most of us make every attempt to be with people we trust. We want to be with people who are credible and make us feel safe. When Jesus sent his Apostles out two by two, they felt a strong sense of security because they had gotten to know each other over the last three years and even though the Apostles are small in number, they have one common denominator - trust.  The disciples knew they could trust each other.

 

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles reveals to us someone the Apostles had difficulty trusting, someone with whom they didn’t feel safe. Our Lord chose Saul to be an Apostle, a Roman Soldier who was seeking out and persecuting Christians When Saul first arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the Apostles, but they were afraid of him believing he was insincere in his attempt to convince them he had a change of heart so before they will trust him - he has to prove himself by establishing a good image of himself.

 

Last week we learned about the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This week we are going to learn more about the image of the vine and the branches, an image that portrays an intimacy between the Father and the Son and the disciples and you and I. Jesus said I am the vine and my Father is the vine grower and you are the branches’

 

The Vine and the vineyard are familiar images for the people of the Old Testament. The Israelites brought a vine out of the land of Egypt during the great Exodus and planted it in the soil of their new Homeland. Theologians often refer to Israel as the vine that was brought out of Egypt and God as the vine grower who plants it in a new land and the Israelites are seen as the branches. If a branch separates itself from the vine it will wither and die. The same is true for us if we separate ourselves from God. The image of a vine is so significant for the Israelites that they had a vine carved in the Sanctuary of the Temple with grapes as enormous as one’s hand. Early Christians also - had vines painted on the walls of catacombs depicting Christ as the - true vine.

 

The vine is seen as an image of the people of God with its branches so intertwined, that it’s impossible to know where one branch begins and another ends. I was trying to think of some imagery or story that would depict this kind of entanglement. One so massive that it would seem impossible  to get out of it – but as a Christian we don’t want to find a way out - but we want to be totally connected to God’s ways because our whole purpose as a Christian is to be totally - enmeshed in Christ.   

 

I then thought of the story of Jack and the beanstalk and how Jack had to climb that large stalk reaching into the sky by going - in and out of that twisted vine - in order to pull himself up that huge stalk but when returning to the beanstalk his maneuvering not only protected him from falling but from the Giant who was too big to maneuver in and out of the stalk as he was carrying too much weight and he plummets to the earth. The same is true for those who hang on to too many possessions, they are carrying too much weight which prevents them from being able to go deep into our lord’s arms, and like the branches that break away from the vine - they get tossed into the fire    

 

As Christians we don’t want to be separated from God, but like Jack we need to be connected to a central stalk providing us the ability to bear fruit - as we are connected to the source of life. God is that source. To remain healthy and productive, we must be pruned by the - vine Grower. In other words, we need to stay close to the Father if we hope to confront our - weaknesses and shortcoming

 

In order for Saul to get people to trust him, he needed to stay close to the father and he needed someone to take a risk on him. Barnabas was the one who was willing to take that risk. He took Saul under his wings and witnessed to the community on his behalf. He witnessed to them how Paul was pruned by his encounter with the Risen Lord.  An encounter that was so intense that he was pruned from his hatred of Christians to his willingness to become a disciple - while remaining in Jesus.

 

Part of living the paschal mystery is experiencing a dying and rising. It requires our willingness to be pruned. We must allow God to tend to us so we can rid ourselves of what ever gets in the way of being a faithful Disciple who not only proclaims the Gospel but who is willing to live the Gospel in deeds and in truth. This means we must witness to others - our - intimate relationship with God. We do this through prayer and worship both privately and publicly and we do this by the way we show we care for others.  

 

This is how Saul - who later became known as Paul - became accepted by Christians It was when Barnabas met with the Apostles and told them how Saul came to know the Christ on the way to Damascus when the resurrected Jesus Spoke to him and how Saul began speaking boldly in his name. Then the apostles began to trust Saul. They learned God chose Saul to be the instrument who would lead the Gentiles to him, It was from then on - that Saul always stayed connected to the vine, and bore fruit.

 

The allegory of the vineyard would have been very familiar to John’s audience as the care for vineyards were very common at that time. The owners of vineyards took great pride in growing heathy vines and when branches did not bear fruit, they cut them off and thrown into the fire. The message of Christ is clear, As long as we remain connected to the vine we will bear much fruit but if we separate ourselves from the vine, we will become empty and fearful. Fear interferes with our union with God and causes us to fail to respond to the Holy Spirit.  

 

Fear separates us from the love of God. When we live in fear, we allow our prejudices and judgments and insecurities to determine our decisions so instead of taking risks, we make decisions that we know will be safe and comfortable and secure. Barnabas took a risk with the Apostle Paul, allowing him to do the ministry God called him to

 

There is a reason why “Be not afraid” is one of the most commonly repeated phrases in the Gospels. Living in fear is not God’s plan for us, rather it is when we open ourselves up to uncomfortable situations and take risks to encounter others who are different from ourselves, and when we serve at the margins of our society, we are bearing the fruit of the Father.

 

When we follow the example of Barnabas who was willing to speak on behalf of a former enemy that we make room in our lives for the Holy spirit to work in us. It is during these moments- when we are forging a connection with the true vine and bear much fruit. Next time you make an attempt to be with people you trust - be sure that you are also making an attempt to be sure - you are one of those people. Be that image of the Christ, who is the image of his Father - and you will change the world   

Subscribe

RSS Feed

Archive