Father John noted that there are two areas of focus for today’s scripture: abiding and helping. For today’s Gospel reading, John 15:1-8, the term “abide” is used eight times (in the New Revised Standard translation) which suggests it must be an important part of the lesson.
Jesus uses a vine as a metaphor which would have been common for the readers of his time. Fr. John suggested that a metaphor for today might be found in the James Cameron movie, Avatar. In the movie, the avatar has something similar in appearance to long braided human hair but appears to be an extension of the nervous system that can serve as a connection with other living things. The connection is total, making both “partners” completely connected beings.
Fr. John suggested that this is the kind of connection Jesus wants us to have with him. Returning to the vine metaphor, he hopes we can become one with him with our roots grounded in God, the soil that nourishes us. If we abide in God and connect with Jesus, we can produce fruit that benefits our larger community.
Fr. John then turned to “helping” and the baptism of the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian was a God-fearing man and had traveled to Jerusalem to learn more. When he arrives in the city he learns that he cannot enter the synagogue and is therefore not able to be part of the larger worshiping community. He is undeterred in his quest and as he is reading Isaiah, God arranges for Philip to be there to help him interpret what he is reading. In his translation, he helps the Ethiopian see the possibility of his being a part of a larger inclusive worship community…in a way that isn’t possible apart from Jesus.
The message applies equally to us today and the 1,000 members of St. Thomas. If can abide in Jesus and tie ourselves together like a vine (or an avatar!), grounded in God, we can hope to produce good fruit and extend his love to a larger, inclusive worship community.
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