Jesus as the vine with us as the branches is a very powerful model for the Christian life. It sets things straight as to how we are to be and what we are to do. As the text says, “cut off from me you can do nothing.” So this text calls us to be branches….

Jesus imagery in the gospel this morning speaks to us of the rooted context of the maturing Christian life. We are called to abide in God, trusting that the Vine will supply the needs to the branches, that one comes from the other, that we are connected. It is only in abiding, the peaceful, calm…