Vine and Fruit

Like the fruit in the youthful Tree
In the easterly garden long ago
The Lord Jesus wants us to see
The life-giving food He does bestow

And taste the Goodness He gives there
His proclamation, His Word, sweet as honey
The Bread from Heaven, true and fair
Helping us reach green hills, peaceful and sunny

To achieve second Paradise, a second Tree there must be
A second Adam, and perfect, to defend all His kin
Hangs as the new Fruit on a new Tree in order to free
The whole of His creation from our debt of sin

My God proffers a difficult saying:
On His very Body, Jesus asks us to feed
After Supper, He uplifts the cup, praying
The blood of grapes becomes blood indeed

Jesus humbles the proud, brings up the low
He reminds us we are the branches, He — the Vine
And that without Him we will cease to grow
Passion fruit below or heights to reach the Divine

He shows us that unless a grain falls and dies
And for a few dark days looks forlorn
Will not with new life Jesse’s Root arise
To greet the brilliant sun of Easter morn!

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