I am the Vine

Spring is in the air! What a glorious couple of days. I just arrived in Rome on Friday so haven’t had a chance to fully appreciate the gardens and what is blooming here, but I am coming from Virginia, in the United States, near Washington, DC where it is glorious full spring. And I was in London ten days ago where, although a bit gray, there were a couple of sunny days and Hyde Park and Regent Park were green with glorious bulbs and much color. I love seeing the expanses of tulips and daffodils this time of year. And as the spring evolves into summer we see gardens with their wide variety of plantings coming together as a whole. Think about some of the beautiful gardens you have seen. Perhaps Borghese Gardens here in Rome. The Aventine Hill with the rose garden. Or Tivoli Gardens a little further north. The Gardens of Versailles in France. Maybe a family garden in England. Or just a small garden plot, perhaps flowers in front of someone’s home.

Last year as I was planting some annuals for color in the garden around my home, I had a pack of petunias and started trying to pry them apart into smaller groups for planting. And I was fascinated, amazed, at how intertwined all the roots were, impossible to separate into individual plants. And then a bit taken aback at how an individual plant looked by itself. Flowers are meant to be seen as a group, as a gathering, together. Gardens are a mixture of multiple plants thriving together.

While an individual rose or a gardenia to give to someone is lovely, think how much more beautiful a bouquet of flowers is, or a garden with dahlias, larkspur, dicentrum, lilies and peonies. Together so much more beautiful.

There has been a lot written recently about the extensive underground root systems of trees and how they communicate. And immense vast networks of mushrooms, fungi, that go on for miles….

‘I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine…’ Like bouquets of flowers and gardens we are not meant to  be out in the world by ourselves. We are social animals and are meant to be with one another.

This is a rich gospel passage and fodder for many sermons: pruning, cutting off dead pieces, branches thrown into the fire, bearing fruit. But like the phrase ‘the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me,’ seems a good lesson for today. This message about all being part of the whole and interconnected is so relevant, so germane today. We are meant to be in relationship. We are part of the vine. John’s gospel today also says, ‘apart from me you can do nothing…’ We know the fullest life when we experience life together, and life with Jesus. We are social beings. That is how we are wired.

I had an albeit brief period in my life when I was alone. And I can tell you that entertaining friends is a whole lot more fun when two people do it together. Planning the meal, preparing the food, setting the table, and cleaning up afterward are better when done together! I know some of you live alone – by circumstance or by choice. But living alone doesn’t mean ‘being alone.’ It may just mean living with another, or dining with friends, or socializing, or throwing a social event, or caring for or calling on one in need. We are social animals. It is amazing how much a brief social visit to one in need can mean…

Leonard Syme, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkley, has researched and written about the importance of social ties and social support systems in relationship to mortality and disease rates. He points to Japan as being, in the 1980’s, number one in the world with respect to health, and then discusses the close social, cultural, and traditional ties in that country as the reason. He believed that the more social ties, the better the health and the lower the death rate. Conversely, the more isolated the person, the poorer the health and the higher the death rate. Numerous other scientific and sociological studies show that social interaction, prayer groups, social groups, etc., all positively influence health and surgical outcomes. As do churches and church life.

I mentioned being in London recently — a dear friend of mine underwent open heart surgery. A lovely delicate and petite lady had two valves in her heart replaced. A risky surgery for anyone, but two valves and her small size made this a challenge for not only the surgeon and surgical team but for her, and for her family. I went to be with them, partly to translate medical speak and to be a counselor or health navigator (it is relevant that those of you who do not know me well understand that my first career was as an invasive cardiologist, caring for ailing hearts and bodies). But I also was there as a friend giving love and support. Emotional support. I got, perhaps, as much or more out of it as they did. It is amazing how much a smile, a hug, an encouraging word, time together, can do. In the Jewish tradition, when someone dies they go and sit shiva. For extended periods. Time together. Scientifically I tell you that there is mystery of being together and a value to emotional support that is inexplicable. Spiritually I tell you that indeed there is a mystery and that is the Holy Spirit working among us…

Matthew 18:20 reminds us, ‘When two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name he is present with us.’ And in the Book of Common Prayer we have the Prayer of St. John Chrysostom at the end of both Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, ‘Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee, and has promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his name thou wilt be in the midst of them…’  When we are in relationship with one another we are engaging one another, loving God’s people as we are meant to do, and honoring God. The vine and the tendrils, we are all part of the same.

The Anglican Primates are here in Rome meeting this week. We have several of those august guests here with us today. A welcome again to you all and thank you for your leadership around the world. Despite some very real and deep differences theologically, philosophically, and socially they gather together regularly to be together and to commune; meetings, meals, Holy Eucharist. Our job, our call, is to be a part of the vine. Interconnected. Hospitality.

St. Benedict understood that when he wrote his Rule focusing on hospitality and relationships and guests. In his Rule he says, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, who said: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ (Matthew 25:35).” Remember the Old Testament story of entertaining angels unaware, Abram and Sara in the desert with the strangers appearing at their tent? How can we all be in better relationship one with another???… Don’t we eat three times a day? Isn’t that what the Eucharist is about? Shouldn’t every meal be ‘holy eucharist’…

Our job in being part of the vine is to make sure that we are indeed all part of the same vine.

In relationship doesn’t mean you have to have a love affair, a loving affair, be partnered or married. It means engaging others, loving them, reaching out to them, and letting them reach out to you. Inviting someone for coffee or dinner. Or just a call on the phone. Visiting one in hospital, or prison, or shut in. Entertaining angels unaware. We are meant to be in relationship.

How can we be better our relationship with others? With God? We are a community Your long standing and beloved priest, Austin, has moved on to be Bishop of California. But Bishop Mark has been here, and now another priest. Another who already loves you. Live into it. Grasp it. Let’s grow together as community. ‘I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower.’ The vine and tendrils – we are all one, all a part of the same. John Donne was so right when he said, ‘No man is an island, entire of itself, Every one is a piece of the continent…’ The interconnections are very real, waves, energy, karma, Holy Spirit. No one is alone here…or should be. Just as a flower alone is not as pretty as a bouquet or as a group planting. A garden is better than an individual plant. Our job is to make sure that we are all part of the same vine.

Spring is in the air! Breathe it. Savor it, and do your best to make the vines grow and the tendrils flourish. And you will be honoring God and loving your neighbor.

Amen.