By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
What is grace? I often ask this question when I begin teaching as a catechist for children or adults, while mentoring to couples preparing for marriage in the Church or discussing faith with those seeking answers. It is not a trick question or a way to halt the conversation, although it briefly does. This question is a place to start an important conversation about our relationship with God, our Creator. The discussion that follows bears great fruit, which is a very biblical way of saying, it is productive and good!
The fruits John is speaking about in this gospel passage are the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the Galatians 5 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The picture of a grapevine (Jesus) with branches (the baptized) is a visual gift of strength and hope. Planting, nurturing, watering, growing, pruning and producing good fruit with the warmth of the sun (Son) sustains all life. A plant that is not tended to will never grow.
The grapevine image gives us a lot to think about as we grow in our relationship with God. A cluster of grapes grows as the sap flows up the vine and into the branches. Jesus tells us that God is the sap, and His grace helps produce the fruit. In using our spiritual gifts, we bring effective witness to all those around us! When a branch is broken and separated from the vine, it is like a soul separated from God by mortal sin; it withers and dies. If we understand this beautiful teaching given to us by Jesus Christ, why are we so afraid to talk about sin and offending God in our society?
Grace is a supernatural gift that God freely offers to us. There are two kinds of grace: sanctifying grace, which the three Divine Persons grant to us by coming to dwell in our soul; and actual grace, which is a temporary help God gives to strengthen us to do good and avoid evil. This grace moves people to contribute positively in God’s redemptive work and bring conversion to sinners.
To understand the difference between actual grace and sanctifying grace, remember that actual grace empowers us to act according to His will. Sanctifying grace refers to Christians being transformed as adopted children of God. It is a divine gift and sanctifying because it truly transforms a person with holiness. When we speak of being in the state of grace, we mean the state of sanctifying grace. This grace comes to us first in baptism and then through the other sacraments. The work of the Holy Spirit in Christians helps nourish our desire for holiness with grace that is freely given.
I discussed the meaning of grace with our grandsons. I explained that God gives us free will to choose good – not with force, but with enlightenment. I asked them to read the John 15 and draw a picture about this teaching from Jesus.
One grandson drew a vineyard with rows of plants and giant clumps of grapes on each with this caption, “A True Believer!” He explained that every grape represented an act of goodness made possible by the grace of God. A good teaching day! “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” During the season of Lent, restore the broken branches in the vineyard of your life! Amen!