Last Sunday we read how Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd. This week he talks about himself as the the vine. The vine had been used as a symbol of Israel, the chosen people, but now it is Jesus who becomes the vine. The image is very powerful; we can imagine the life-giving sap flowing through to nourish each branch. If the flow is cut off, the branch will wither and die. A vine has to be pruned vigorously or it will not be productive. It will be like the man who buried his talent in the ground (Matt. 25:18). Perhaps the pruning consists of everyday experiences, where we learn painfully that we have not taken the right path.
Today’s reading is taken from the discources at the Last Supper, where Jesus’ teachings are gathered together, as though in his departure from the earth he wants to remind his disciples of what he has previously told them. John does not mention the Eucharist specifically at this time but the parable of the vine is in itself a way of showing how the Lord sustains us. It is a picture of his complete self-giving of the fruits of his sacrifice on the cross which we receive in communion.