The Point of Prayer

Jesus’ image of the vine in John 15 isn’t just poetic—it completes a long biblical story. Israel was the vine God lovingly planted (Psalm 80), confronted for bearing bad fruit (Isaiah 5), and grieved over when it went wild (Jeremiah 2). Jesus steps into that story as the true Vine, inviting us to remain in him so real life can flow and real fruit can grow. The Examen trains us to notice where we’re actually abiding and where we’re resisting, while pruning reminds us that God’s love is not passive—He lovingly cuts away what blocks growth. Fruit doesn’t come from trying harder, but from staying connected to the Source and trusting the Gardener to shape us for deeper life.