Reflection for the Feast of Pentecost

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:1–5)

Earlier this Easter season we heard the above Gospel reading (on April 28, the Fifth Sunday of Easter). Listening to it so soon after celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day, it struck me as a vivid and vital reminder of the importance of nurturing our relationship with God and our parish community in our ecological efforts. While we make changes in our personal lives and habits to limit our negative impact on the environment, it is our shared faith that can keep us from growing discouraged when the global scale of the climate crisis overwhelms us. The image of the vine, a source of flourishing life, is a resource that we can look to when we feel as if we are in a period of drought and all seems hopeless. It is a call to stay humble as we commit to our actions—even if they seem too small—knowing that we are just one of many branches.

As Pentecost draws near, we invite you to contemplate how the Spirit is speaking to you through nature, whether you experience it during a walk in the park, a community garden, an out-of-town retreat, or even a favorite painting or poem. How does your personal relationship with the natural world strengthen your connection with God?