Film critic Roger Ebert loved A Walk in The Clouds.
He called it “a glorious romantic fantasy, aflame with passion and bittersweet longing. One needs perhaps to have a little of these qualities in one's soul to respond fully to the film, which to a jaundiced eye might look like overworked melodrama, but that to me sang with innocence and trust.”
The plot: Paul, a veteran fresh from the trauma of World War II, befriends Victoria, a pregnant woman on her way home from college. She’s been abandoned by the man she thought loved her. Now she fears a harsh reaction from her father, the strong-willed master of their family and of “The Clouds,” their family vineyard. Paul agrees to temporarily pose as her husband, and she hopes this will blunt her father’s anger.
But don’t let any of this drama distract you: it’s really all about the vineyard. The family’s entire existence revolves around it. Each day is filled with what it takes to keep the vines healthy and producing the varietals needed for a great wine. The challenges are constant. Before the film is over, an existential crisis threatens the vineyard.
At the heart of it all is the original vine, the root. Without it, the vineyard would be lost.
It’s the same for the vineyard in this week’s scripture selections from Isaiah and Psalm 80. The vineyard God has planted, there, represents His people. God’s vineyard also needs its root to flourish, and that root is Jesus. The vineyard cannot survive on its own. Sadly, all that rootless vineyard will produce is wild grapes, useless for making wine. That is, God’s people keep failing and then begging to be forgiven. Over and over.
Eventually, God has had enough and says He is giving up on His vineyard. Then animals, plants and even the weather work to destroy it.
Centuries pass before someone appears to end that heartbreaking cycle. As we know, that cycle-breaker is Jesus, the promised Messiah, the root, the original vine. Without Him, the vineyard will be lost, cut off from God.
Jesus said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who He is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” (John15:5-8, The Message)
Is what Jesus said sentimental? Definitely. Idealistic? Maybe. Too simple for a cynic to believe? Perhaps. But it absolutely sings with innocence and trust. And nothing could be more true.
And that’s the point of this reflection. Because Jesus volunteered to be the new vine, He now sits to the right of God. When God looks to His right, he sees the son He loves, the true vine, and not those wild grapes of His wrath.
_________________________
PHOTO: Steve Orr
Check out A Walk in The Clouds here:
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0114887/?ref_=m_nv_sr_1
Check out Roger Ebert’s review here:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-walk-in-the-clouds-1995
______________________
Friday mornings are a treat. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets at 8:00 and includes an hour of scripture, discussion, food, prayer, and laughter. Join us at Our Breakfast Place or on Zoom.** We are usually in the function room (down the outside of the building, near the back).
Blessings,
Steve
**Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=275
Print them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/pdf//Cx_Proper15.pdf
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Psalm 82
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56
No comments:
Post a Comment