Grapes hang in an indoor plastic tunnel. The joy that grapes bring and their health benefits are obvious as they are filled with nutrients to help patients come back to full health. Reading about the benefits of grapes there seems to be many from, possibly slowing or healing some types of cancer or heart disease. Helping with constipation, high blood pressure and allergies.

Jesus shared meals with wine and these seemed to be joyous occasions. Jesus’ message is that of peace, of joyous peace. He has not come to condemn but to save.

John 3:17

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The message is simple, Jesus is the vine and he brings good news to all. We can be saved from a life of hate and condemnation. A life full of envy and want, and instead living a life of love.

When people hate us Jesus asks us to pray for those people, and so tonight it is a simple message, to the person who has been sending me hate filled messages, who has been so full of hate that it is filling your heart, this prayer is directly for you.

Dear Lord, help this person and all people in similar circumstances to love. Help them to feel your joyous love, that they were created for a reason, for a purpose. Help them to be filled with your joyous Holy Spirit and feel the love of you, the love of God, as I return their hate as a prayer of love. Forgive them Lord and lead them into the light. As your Son felt every insult and nail, but only love held Him there to die for our sins, let many others let go of their hate and replace it with your love.

I offer this through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen