LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Easter VI + April 27, 2008 + St. Paul’s Church, Lake James

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

   The use of language is an interesting thing.  Sometimes, the message one intends to give emerges as quite something else, such as this announcement from a church bulletin (NOT St. Paul’s, I hasten to add): “Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use the large double door at the side entrance” or it’s parallel from another church: “The Low Self-Esteem Support group will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m.  Please use the back door.” 

    Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus used words, teaching in a variety of ways.  He told parables, stories some of which are familiar to, and greatly loved by Christians throughout the centuries (The Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son would be examples).    

    Another way Jesus taught was through the use of allegory, and for the past several Sundays, we have heard a number of examples such as “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  Another example is the well-known statement of Christ “I am the vine and you are the branches.” 

    Some 35 years ago, almost without my realizing it, I became interested in growing and nurturing indoor plants.  It all began when a parishioner gave me a present – a papyrus with four small shoots.  I’d never paid much attention to plants before that, but since that gift meant a lot to me, I decided I’d better care for it properly.  I read a book on plant care, and, because the plant was a papyrus, I named it “Moses.”   Not long afterward, seeing that it was producing new shoots at an amazing rate, I changed its name to a hyphenated one, “Moses-Miriam” because who knows?  Through the years, that plant prospered, growing to a height of six feet!  Tending that plant led me to have other kinds and, ever since, I have always enjoyed their presence wherever I have lived. I’m still no expert, but I do enjoy my role as their caregiver.  I feel an involvement in their existence, and a responsibility for their survival and growth.  It can be something of a problem if we go away for any length of time, but, in balance, it’s wonderful to feel and be needed. 

    Much of what I have said about taking care of plants also applies to pets, and, moving up the ladder of importance, to the care of children or other dependents. When we are caregivers, we fill a God-like role toward weaker or more limited creatures.  That role is beautifully described in the fourth Eucharistic Prayer in Rite II of our Prayerbook.  That prayer says that God gave the whole world into our care so that, in obedience to our Creator, we might rule, and serve all God’s creatures.  So, the first point I’d like to make is that, as branches of the Vine which is Christ, we receive so that we, in turn, can nurture others. 

     In addition to that nice, affirming allegory of our connectedness to the Divine source of life, Jesus also said “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”  What do you think of that?  We can do nothing?  When you get in your car, don’t you expect to be able to insert your key in the ignition, turn it, and have the motor start?  If you have a meeting to attend, a business deal to complete, a meal to prepare, or lessons to study, who will do any of those things – you, or God?  Certainly most of us assume that we have things to do, and we want to do them well or else they won’t get done.  So what does Jesus mean in saying that apart from him, we can’t do anything? 

    It seems clear that God has designed human beings in ways which include such variables as intelligence, physical strength, artistic abilities, and many other kinds of talents.  Some of those qualities may be well developed in us, while others may be only latent, or even non-existent.  Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses.  For instance, I enjoy playing the organ, but I play by ear and not very well at that.  Even if I were to study intensely guided by wonderful teachers, Debbie Scott would have nothing to fear from competition with me!  On the other hand, what you become, what I become, and what this parish becomes, are realities which are neither fully in our hands (like caring for plants), nor are they beyond us the way becoming something we are not given to be, might be.     

    What we become, what this parish becomes, is in the realm of shared responsibility with God.  On the one hand, we have our parts to play as we actively seek to be more fully the people God wills us to be and as we work to enable this parish to be the community of faith God calls it to be.  But on the other hand, we know that none of that can or will happen unless we continually open ourselves to God’s grace. 

       Now it’s certainly true that any allegory is limited and cannot be pushed too far without breaking down.  Perhaps that’s why Jesus used so many allegories, each supplying something lacking in the others.  For example, if we focus only on the statement that we are branches on the Christ-vine, sooner or later it will occur to us that, in fact, we have something no branches have, namely freedom of choice!  We can sever ourselves, at least in large part, from Jesus the vine on the foolish assumption that we can go it alone.  We can turn our backs on God, on worship, and on our brothers and sisters in that faith community called “the Church,” and I suspect you and I both know people who have done that (perhaps at some time or other we ourselves have done that).  But all that happens is an impoverishment of life, a losing of an awareness of something which strengthens and makes life meaningful.  After having done just that for years, St. Augustine of Hippo was able to pray “O God, You alone are always present – even to those who separate themselves from You…”   

    That’s why Jesus says “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”  It isn’t that God leans over your shoulder and turns the ignition key to start your car, but the intelligence to do so and the ability to function are God’s gifts, and we are merely using them.  So, stop a moment and consider how often and how thoroughly God’s gifts make possible all that we do.     

    When we really think about it, it turns out that those words, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” are not negative, but rather should be encouraging because they show that despite our weaknesses and all-too-frequent lapses into sin, Jesus still keeps his covenant with us, living up to his promise to love and strengthen us, a promise which applies to us just as we are right now. 

   Jesus didn’t say “I am the vine and, when you get to be perfect, you may become my branches.”  Instead, knowing all there is to know about us, even knowing more about us than we know ourselves, He still loves, and accepts us! He IS the vine, and as vines do for their branches, he supplies us with all that we need: patient forgiveness, grace, and strength.  It’s up to us as to whether we choose to receive and use those gifts.

    In today’s Collect, we acknowledged that God has prepared for us all such good things as pass our understanding.  Both as individuals and as a parish, we have so much for which to be grateful.  As we look to the future, we need not worry even though we can only guess what it may hold.  Why?  Because Christ IS the vine, and we ARE the branches.  What more could we really need – or want?

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The Reverend Alfred T. K. Zadig, Sr.

This page last modified on Monday, April 28, 2008 08:34 PM