Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - 5th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 15:1-6 and John 15:1-8]"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." [John]
Today's gospel passage may seem familiar. "Didn't I hear this just last Sunday?" Yes, you did. The two-year weekday cycle (we are in Year One) operates independently of the three-year Sunday cycle (we are in Year B). When the same gospel passage appears on a Monday, the lectionary has mercy and offers an alternate reading! This time, the same passage occurs on a Wednesday, so we get a second shot at it! However, the Gospel of John always offers that second shot!
The word "remain" is one I have called attention to in the past. It is one of those key words in the Gospel of John which describes the relationship between Jesus and his Father and Jesus and his disciples. Perhaps another way of translating the Greek word (menein) is "abiding presence." In the Gospel of John, when we come to faith, Jesus "remains" in us and we in him. He tells us that he and his Father will come to us and make their dwelling in us if we believe in him and his word. That is a profound intimacy with God! It is this intimacy which makes discipleship possible and enables us to "bear fruit."
On retreats, I often hear complaints from participants that they never seem to "have time to pray." It is as if they have to make an appointment with God. But if we are people of faith, we carry God within us and it is the acknowledgment of that presence which is at the center of prayer. How can we ignore such a presence? Well....we often do ignore it even if we don't intend to. We just don't give it a priority. I tell people that if we just gave the acknowledgment of this presence at least the status that we give to brushing our teeth in the morning, we wouldn't dream of leaving home without that prayer! The Lord "remains" in us, but that abiding presence demands our attention. AMEN
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