John 15 1-9

I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
This passage is one of the most famous, most often quoted and one of the most inspirational for those of us, which, of course, is all of us, who seek a purpose in life beyond the ordinary. Even though very few of us today have ever seen a grapevine in a vineyard, the powerful imagery evoked by Jesus in the Gospel is just as relevant today as it was in His time. Jesus is the vine. God is the vine grower. We are the branches. It is we who bear fruit as long as we remain connected to him. He tells us in the gospel without him we can do nothing. Knowing we have a place and purpose – I have a place and purpose - is very comforting but is not completely soothing for there remains an unanswered question. What fruit are we to bear? If Jesus is the true vine, the fruit we must bear must also be true.

The answers lies bearing fruit by becoming His disciples. To become more like Him. To do what He would have us do which is to serve others as he served us.

Every day, we seek to see the face of Jesus, to remain with him and to remain in him. Recently I spent a day on a river which runs through a land my family has called home for generations. With some brothers in Christ, I joined in worshiping God through appreciation of his creation and appreciation of the gift to enjoy his creation. We floated on waters which have flowed since before our time and which will flow until the end of time. We saw creation but I did not truly see the face God as he passed by my tent. I had yet to bear the fruit we are called to bear.

Returning home, we stopped in a restaurant to grab a pork chop sandwich. While waiting in line, two men came through the door. They were both short in stature and both seemed to be older, perhaps in their 70’s. The clothing they wore was simple and clean but not stylish. One man was black and the other either Asian or Native American. I could not be sure of which.

I was instantly on edge because I was unsure what to expect from them. They appeared as though they might need money or they might want to engage me in a conversation. When they nodded pleasantly and ignored us, I was relieved. I was not going to be asked get outside my comfort zone. They were just a couple of guys out to enjoy a pork chop sandwich just like my friend and I. Even so, I still kept an eye and ear focused on them. I secretly almost hoped they might struggle to pay the bill so I might have an opportunity to contribute to their dinner but money was not an issue. I was hoping for a chance to be a good guy without actually doing anything personal.

After being served, they sat at a table next to us, and I continued to listen in on them from time to time wondering what kind of oddness or weirdness I might hear. All I heard was conversation. They talked about the big fight that night and they talked about the weather. Their conversation was not so different from that of my friend and me.

When it came time to leave, I turned to them and said, “I see we scored a great meal tonight.” 
They both looked at me and, smiling back, responded, “We sure did. Have a great night.”
“You too,” I said and with that my friend and I left.

The Asian/Indian guy, by the way had an opaque left eye that flashed in the light in a seriously spooky way. The black guy was missing several teeth and had a crippled and withered hand. Neither guy was much like me or my friend but God put them in my path to remind me of what it means to see his face and be to be changed by the encounter.

The fruit we are to bear. We sometimes delude ourselves into thinking it has to be something big or important. We are called to comfort the ill, to feed the poor, to offer shelter and food to the hungry. Big stuff. Stuff that requires a sacrifice of time or treasure. But not always. 

Sometimes all we are called to do is just be kind. It can be just that simple.

Today the fruit we must bear to remain in Him might be difficult. It might be hard. It might require us to get outside ourselves and be uncomfortable. We might even be called to change arc of our lives so that we can follow the path he has set for us. More likely, however, it might be nothing more demanding than to smile at someone who is not like you and simply be kind.

Prayer
Give me the strength to remain in you and the courage to bear the fruit of your vine.