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‘I am the vine; you are the branches…” Partial to Whole…(John 15:1-8).
In my growing as a branch, I have come to appreciate the value of pruning! The more I am able to see what is lacking in my response to God’s Love, the greater is my desire to bring that lack to God in prayer, seeking help in transformation by practicing gratitude and trust.
In the book of Genesis, we are told that we are made in the image and likeness of God. In the letter to the Philippians, we are instructed to imitate the humility of Jesus. In the letter to the Ephesians, we are instructed to be holy and to mature toward the fullness of holiness for which we were created, as modeled by Jesus. In the Gospel of John, we are reminded, simply, that God is Love.
Sometimes, when I am stuck, feeling limited, or realize that I am not perfect and do not know everything, somewhat jokingly, I remind myself, Oh yes! I am not God!” As a human, I am still limited. The lens of partiality and wholeness is one way of understanding the relationship between humanity and divinity, anthropology and theology. This pair of opposites—partial and whole—can also help us to understand transformation, the hard work of healing and wholeness. If I can get over the first hurdle of recognizing that I am not God, I can then get on to more honestly doing the work of being human.
