ADVENT WEEK THREE: JOY
December 17 Rev. Jenny Wynn
Tending Toward Justice
John 15:1-11
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy
may be complete. John 15:11
As a child, I was heartbroken watching my dad remove flowers and tomatoes
on brand new plants before planting. I couldn’t understand why he would do
this to the plant. Eventually, I learned about pinching, deadheading, and prun-
ing. Each requires removing parts of plants at specific growth stages. This
allows for redirection of energy for fuller growth and better tasting fruits. I
learned careful tending leads to deep joy at harvest time.
John 15:1-12 uses the metaphor of a gardener and a vine to illustrate an abid-
ing relationship with God and Christ that is rooted in love. This relationship
produces fruitful discipleship. When the vine branches stop producing fruit,
they need some pruning to redirect energy toward what truly matters, love.
In Advent, as we long for a fruitful future free from violence, scarcity, and
death-dealing systems, we must ask: what needs pruning in our lives and
communities? Perhaps our tendency to judge rather than love, our impulse to
hoard resources instead of sharing with those in need, or our silence when
facing injustice?
Pruning may be difficult, but when harvest comes, when everyone has enough,
communities are healed and restored, joy is made complete. Just as my fa-
ther’s careful removal of early fruit led to abundant tomatoes, spiritual pruning
redirects our energy toward love and justice, and toward cultivating the world
that we seek.
Take time to notice moments when you’re tempted to judge, hoard, or stay si-
lent. In those moments, ask: “How can I redirect this energy toward love?” Let
these redirections be your pruning practice.
","author_name":"Phillips Seminary"}