The Vine and the Branches

The Lord calls himself the vine and those united to him branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with him, and how important it is for us to remain in his love.  By receiving the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of union between us and Christ our Saviour, those who are joined to him, as branches are to a vine, share in his own nature….  From Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in him and our love for him.  Like branches growing from a vine, we now draw our life from Christ, and we cling to his holy commandment in order to preserve this life.  Eager to safeguard the blessing of our noble birth, we are careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and who makes us aware of God’s presence in us.  Let the wisdom of John, then, teach us how we live in Christ and Christ live in us: “The proof that we are living in him and he is living in us is that he has given us a share in his Spirit.”  Just as the trunk of the vine gives its own natural properties to each of its branches, so, by bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the only-begotten Son of the Father, gives Christians a certain kinship with himself and with God the Father because they have been united to him by faith and determination to do his will in all things.  He helps them to grow in love and reverence for God, and teaches them to discern right from wrong and to act with integrity.

– from a commentary on St John’s Gospel by Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

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