Spriggles and Giggles

Today's Gospel Reading

John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

This reading seems to speak to me on two levels. First, on a practical level. Sean and I are in the process of learning to garden, picking out plants that we won't kill to easily and trying to plant and remember to water them! It makes me think a lot about my faith too. There is SO much to learn! I studied Theology in College, did missionary work, youth ministry and various other things and I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface of the depth of our faith. But beyond learning you have to plant the good stuff in your life and weed out the bad and remember to water your garden or it all dies! I have killed a number of plants in my days.

I guess it's really all about upkeep. God gives me his grace but it's not a free ticket. I have to apply that grace in my life, take care of the gifts that he has given me and, in turn, give it all back to Him. It's a good thing that God is so forgiving because I have wasted a lot of grace and missed a lot of opportunities... mostly out of sheer laziness.

Right now I am feeling bad about letting my faith fall to the wayside but tomorrow I will start again. I am going to read the Mass readings everyday, I am going to get back into a prayer routine and get my garden back into shape. And if I screw up, and I will, I will start over again! There's no time like the present people!