To be Christian means to be Christ-like, which in this Sunday’s Gospel means to be fruitful. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them will bear much fruit.” Jesus bore fruit by gathering diverse people together in communion, by being loving, and by acting as a creative healing power. It is increasingly important for people to be Christ-like in a U.S. culture that is more and more segregating, hostile, and violent.
The U.S. Empire has consistently been a segregating culture and needs communion. For example, it has for generations censored Dr. Martin Luther King’s stinging analysis of U.S. segregation and his call to create in its place a Beloved Community. A national independent news organization, The Real News Network, located in Baltimore, has been creating such fruitful communion by consistently informing, gathering, and leading people of that city and other cities in civic forums. It especially takes this action when addressing the divisive problem of police brutality and corruption. Amidst U.S. culture’s hostility it is increasingly important to be fruitful for love. U.S. culture has for generations censored Black activists of nonviolence who carry forth Dr. King’s ‘Strength to Love’ message. This includes Cornel West, Rev. William Barber, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, and so many other good people. It also includes the good people of Baltimore who have been spreading such fruitful love through Conversation Circles, Fusion Partnerships, and most recently Baltimore’s United Methodist Church. The church has been gathering people for love under the banner of ‘Moving People of Faith to Fruitful Conversation.’ Amidst U.S. Empire’s violence it is increasingly important to be fruitful for healing power. U.S. culture willingly glorifies violence, unless that violence is perpetrated by minorities. Healing power has long been active in Baltimore through Jonah House Catholic Worker begun by Elizabeth McAllister and her late husband Philip Berrigan. Jonah House is a community that serves and galvanizes diverse people for their empowerment. Also, working on behalf of the city is Baltimore’s Collective Empowerment Group, and Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD), all of whom are a fruitful healing presence in that city.
The power of the Christs of the world is the power for fruitful communion, love, and healing and it flows through all of us. It’s a power that brings peace and is increasingly important in a U.S. culture willing to make a barren wasteland of our world and our lives.
Prayer: Christ, give us the courage to be pruned so that we might bear much fruit.
Question: How does a fruitful witness flow through me?
May 3, 2015 Gospel John 15:1-8 Fifth Sunday of Easter
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