One interesting thing about the branches of a vine is that they can never of their own accord get detached from the stem. Neither is it in their nature to seek independence. They always stay connected to the main stem and draw energy from it.
The mistake is to treat the branches and the stem as individuated parts. As if they were different part put together to form the vine. It is we who call the different aspects of the plant as stem, branches, fruits and leaves. For the plant itself it is one life.
So it would be good to ask ourselves this Sunday, as we reflect on the gospel of the vine and the branches if we are looking at our relationship with God as outsiders or as from within that relationship. If the latter then we are one; if we view our relationship as an outsider then we are different beings brought together and assembled into one. And if assembled, then we can as well be un-assembled.
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