RBWords

     The dialogue between Jesus and his Jewish adversaries moves to a different subject - Abraham.  Jesus begins with the often-repeated statement quoted above and the conversation first focuses on freedom.  The argument is that Abraham was the father of Judaism and he was not a slave, so his descendants could not have been slaves.  (This is a broad argument because the Assyrians and Babylonians and Romans did physically enslave Jews historically.)  Jesus' reply is that their failure to believe in him as the one whom God has sent amounts to a sin that enslaves them.  They call upon Abraham as their father;  Jesus is calling upon his Father, God.  This will escalate to a climactic statement in tomorrow's gospel scripture.  [Stay tuned]

     Jesus' statement has challenges of its own for us, aside from the question of our relationship to Judaism.  The words - "remain," "word," "know," "truth" - all of these carry significant meaning throughout this gospel.  They speak to our relationship with Jesus.  They speak to the power of faith.  If we go back to the experience of the two disciples who follow Jesus at the beginning of this gospel, we find them "remaining" with Jesus.  This isn't simply a physical presence, it is an abiding relationship.  We will find this in our own friendships which do not require a constant physical presence but transcend that and transform our lives by love.  Jesus will say to us in this gospel, "Remain in me as I remain in you." [John 15:4].  We will be like the branches on the vine.

     All of this requires some effort on our part because the Gospel According to John works on so many levels.  Tomorrow, the fundamental basis of faith will be set before us (and before Jesus' adversaries).  We are moving toward the events of Holy Week and the dramatic tension can carry us along if we are willing to take part.  AMEN