Fruit – A Preacher’s Ponderings

Fruit that lasts

Sixth Sunday of Easter; 5 May 2024; Easter 6B (RCL); Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17.

This passage in John’s Gospel continues the “I AM the vine” speech. Just as we are to abide in Jesus in order to bear fruit, Jesus has abided in the Father’s love, and we are to love one another as Jesus and the Father have loved one another, and as Jesus has loved us — that is, to entrust our lives to one another. Notice that Jesus does not exhort us to obey his commandments (as does the author of the First Epistle of John), but rather to keep them. The verb used for “to keep” implies guarding or protecting something precious. Without too much of a stretch, we could translate this, “If you treasure my commandments.”

The fruit of love

Sixth Sunday of Easter; 9 May 2021; Easter 6B (RCL); Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17.

Last week, we read the image of the vine in John’s Gospel, and this week’s reading continues on from there. The whole purpose of Jesus’ command that we love one another as he has loved us is so that we might be fruitful. John never does tell us what fruitfulness looks like, and so leaves it open for each community to discover for itself what is good and ripe and juicy.