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Here’s A Thought for April 27

Jesus declares: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;… If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”(John 15:1,8)

What does it mean to be a branch?

As a certified trained hospital chaplain I was asked often this question by terminal and dying patients: “Have I done enough to go to heaven?” Once, this question was poised to me by an elderly dying Christian missionary… “Chaplain, I feel I haven’t done enough or good enough to enter heaven. “Sadly, the feeling of guilt is an all too often the major feeling we have during the stages of dying.

I remember pointing to the crucifix on that patient’s room wall saying, “Jesus did it all for us.” This Gospel text affirms “as we remain in God, we will bear fruit.” We have this blessed assurance in Jesus own words “I AM the Vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

“Remaining in him” began for us with our baptism in and through our baptism with water and the Word, and it continues throughout our lives with the regular and faithful use of God’s means of grace — Sacred Scripture and the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Why do you read your Bible? Why do you receive Holy Communion? Why do you go to Bible studies? Why do you go to church? Why do you strive to live in accordance with God’s Ten Commandments? Our answer: “If you remain in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

“Abide in me and I in you.” As we are united to Christ Crucified in and through our baptism; God’s Spirit give us the gift of saving faith which produces “the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

I would invite you to view Christ the True Vine’s icon picture on Wikipedia. In this icon, you will see members who you are connected too … the prophets, the apostles, the martyrs and members of Christ’s holy church, all who were “grafted” baptized into the Body of Christ, the true Vine.

So, when the next time, you are feeling guilty as a result of your own sinful nature, or what the sinful culture tells you, or the devil himself saying to you; say to yourself: “I am baptized into Christ. I am forgiven. All my sins have been washed away by his shed blood and I am connected to Christ the true Vine … Who assures me “You remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit”

Thus, we pray: “Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s sowing, May we ripen and increase, Fruit to life eternal growing, rich in love and joy and peace. Laden branches freely bearing gifts the Giver loves to bless; here is fruit that grows by sharing, patience, kindness, gentleness. Rooted deep in Christ our Master, Christ our pattern and our goal, Teach us, as the years fly faster, goodness, faith, and self-control. Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s tending, May we grow till harvests cease; Till we taste, in life unending, heaven’s love and joy and peace. Amen.

Chopp is a clinical chaplain emeritus, MDiv, BCC, from Marshall

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