Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.
I am not a good gardener; I do not like to prune because pruning means cutting a plant and causing injury to it. On the other hand, we prune children when we correct them and train them in right behavior, even when they do not like being disciplined. If we do not prune them, we do not love them.
Jesus uses two verbs for cutting off in todays passage. Every branch that does not bear fruit gets lopped off and thrown out because it does no good for the plant. The good branches are pruned, or cleansed, in order to bear more fruit. The first seems like a punishment; the second like a correction. The first brings death; the other brings life and fruitfulness.
Preaching is pruning. The Word of God is spoken to nourish us so that we bring forth more abundant fruit. The word of God is like a hose that brings water to thirsty plants; it is like an artery carrying life-giving blood from the heart to the farthest reaches of the body.
The gardener wants all branches to be connected to the vine so that all bear fruit. It is to
the farmer’s credit when branches remain connected to their source. It is to God’s glory that we remain in union with God as branches to the vine. Vintage time is happy time, both for our field and for God’ harvest.
The branch attached to the vine is in intimate relationship just as two people holding hands are intimate relationship. If we remain in Jesus as a branch attached to a vine, then we are an intimate relationship with Christ and with the Father. Remain in Christ as Christ remain in the Father.