Fifth Sunday of Easter – 28th April 2024
In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd who we are called and invited to follow. This Sunday, Jesus offers us another powerful image of himself and our relationship with him. In the gospel Jesus proclaims to us, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.’
At the time of Jesus, the vinedresser was a very important and prominent person in the community. They were more than just an ordinary farmer. Grapes were not easy to grow and they were more than just an annual or casual crop. The vinedresser sowed the vine and cared for them for decades, if not their whole life. He cared for and tended each vine individually. Each vine was different and needed to be cared for differently. So, when Jesus calls God the vinedresser, he is describing God in terms of his relationships and attitude as well as his actions in the lives of his followers and disciples. Just as the vinedresser is totally committed to the vine and the grapes, God is totally committed and dedicated to each of us.