Sunday Readings: Acts 9.26-31; 1 John 3.18-24; John 15.1-8
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me (John 15.3).
Sunday’s gospel comes from Jesus’ farewell to his disciples after the last supper. The image of the vine expresses the heart of Christian spirituality in John’s gospel. His disciples and the risen Jesus remain connected. Disciples live in Jesus, who is risen and alive in us. The love of the risen Jesus sustains the Christian community.
Disciples tap into the common vein of life that runs through the vine, branching throughout history and spreading throughout the world. Eight times in Sunday’s gospel Jesus repeats the word abide. It means to remain with, to continue in mutual relationship. As disciples who believe God raised up Jesus from the dead, we bear fruit through living out our faith in God’s life-giving power and the promise of Jesus’ resurrection.
Friendship with Jesus lasts into his risen life. It remains. Communion of life persists. The risen Jesus is at home in his disciples and they are at home with him. Jesus dwells or abides in them and they abide or dwell in him. We live in God’s love as Jesus does.
- In what relationships do you abide? How do these relationships help you understand your relationship with Jesus and with God?