What is Really Important?

~~~ Acts 15: 1-6 ~~~ Psalm 122 ~~~ John 15: 1-8 ~~~

Today's reading from Acts speaks of circumcision; as a woman I will not be writing about that topic in case you were wondering.

What I will say is that the early church had many decisions to make since others beside the chose Jews were wanting to sign up...to belong to this community of believers.

So as the elders met their real task was to determine what was of real importance. What mattered in the greater scheme of things. These very dilemmas still exist in the church today...and they always will.

We do not live in a stagnant world things are constantly changing evolving; if you will.

We belong to a church that is alive, full of living breathing people of God.

Even though the teachings left for us by Jesus were so carefully modeled

we are part of the living vine.

We must strive for ways to live out our faith and the promises made to us by the Father within the world we live in today. This does not mean we abandon any of the Divine teachings; on the contrary we must pray for the vision to see how we can live them to the fullest within todays' framework.

This task is only possible to accomplish if we remain connected to the vine. We must remain connected so that he can reside in us. It is then that he will remain in us. As he remains in us the Holy Spirit guides and leads the way.

I suggest one other connection between the readings; removal of what no longer serves a purpose. The vine grower knows when it is time to remove the branches. The vine grower knows which branches, when removed, will produce the most new growth.

So today let us look at what is really inportant in our lives.

Do you have the strength to honestly look at your life and decide

what might better trimmed back?

Do you have the confidence to say

this habit is not bringing me closer to the Lord?

Visiting with a spiritual director may help you in seeing

where God is leading you and what he really is asking you to let go.

The vine and the branches are connected...commited to each other in a very intimate way. The branches flourish through the nourishment of the vine. The branches are supported by tiny wispy tendrils holding them in place near the vine.

The vine is the source of life.

I pray that today you each find comfort and peace connected to the Vine.