Growing up, we had two magnificent mango trees, along with several other plants, including coconut trees. Having been planted by my grandmother, of blessed memory, they were decades old with expansive roots which allowed them to withstand the tropical rainfall and winds. They bloomed in season with fresh, tasty fruits—the memories of which will undoubtedly stay with me forever. Thinking of those trees, I am reminded of Jeremiah 17:7-8: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Amongst the main parts of trees are the roots (obtaining water/nutrients and securing everything to the ground), the branches (holding up the leaves to the sunlight and fruits/flowers in blossom) and the trunk (providing support and linking the other parts together). These parts play different roles, but they are all connected to make up the tree and allow it to live and flourish.
This arboreal analogy of connectedness is used by our Lord Jesus Christ in John 15:5-8: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Christ admonishes us that we must remain connected to him as the True Vine, for us to have life and be fruitful.
St. Paul continues this theme of connectedness in the 12th chapter of his letter to the Church in Rome, from the fourth to fifth verses: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
He goes further to reiterate that although we are one body, we all bring unique gifts that enrich us all in our unity: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12: 6-8)
Similarly, St. Paul underlines the equal value of all parts of the Christian body, reminding us that we all need one another and have a share in the others’ blessing: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12: 21 – 26)
Many parts, doing different things, all connected in one with shared outcomes!
As a member of the St. John’s Cathedral Vestry and Choir, I am fortunate to have a vantage position, both figuratively and literally from the quire, wherefrom I witness people living out the meaning of being many but one body in Christ. From the Altar Guild to the sidespersons, the hospitality team to the children’s and youth ministry, the acolytes to the choir, amongst others.
Likewise, as the mother church of the diocese, the Cathedral hosts several diocesan services which I have also been blessed to have attended and seen up close the many branches of the True Vine—the people of Rupert’s Land, clergy and laity alike. We come together in connectedness with Christ, each bringing gifts in service of one another.
This connectedness will be on display at this year’s Synod, to which I am humbled to be a delegate. Representatives from parishes across Rupert’s Land will come together in an act of unity to help chart the course for our diocese at the Spirit’s direction.
Our gathering, whether weekly or biennially, calls to mind Hebrews 10:25: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”
Being connected with others provides many a benefit and is important in all facets of life: “Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4: 11-12). Indeed, there is strength and safety in unity; we are able to do better and achieve more when we do it together.
As with all things, we must be watchful even in our connections. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” This is not to say that Christians should seclude themselves from those they consider unbelievers—after all, we are the ‘light of the world’—and Christ tells us: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Rather, we are to be mindful not to enter entanglements with others that might cause us to stray from following the Way.
Beloved, let us stand together as the branches of the vine and the many parts of the body of Christ, growing together in love and unity “…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4: 15-16)
Connected in Christ, unified in purpose, let us keep working in divine synergy!
