Our scripture reading from the gospel of John tells of Jesus teaching his disciples about remaining connected to him in order to grow strong in their Christian lives. He used an illustration that people of his day would have understood easily. Grapevines were readily handy and they were most likely grown by most homes as a source of food and drink. The disciples, who were once boys, would have tended to the family’s vines and would know experientially the right ways to trim, groom, prune, and train a vine. Once again in teaching the disciples, Jesus made a nod of recognition as the beginning point. Just about all of them would have experience with a grapevine and how to make the greatest and most fruitful harvest.

Many of us don’t live in an agrarian society. We don’t farm our acres every…