Today, we hear the second “I Am” statement in John’s Gospel, “I AM the True Vine”. Chapters 13 – 17 of John’s Gospel are part of the Last Discourse of Jesus on Maundy Thursday, which is where today’s reading comes from.
Pruning is something that is done to make a plant better. The expert pruner knows what and where to prune to increase the light available to the healthy plant, opening it up, allowing the fruit to grow bigger and better. Jesus us changing our identity by shaping our lives through his pruning.