Abiding in Christ’s Love: Fuel for the Mission
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
John 15:9-11
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to deeply comprehend and joyfully abide in Christ’s transformative love, that it may become the source of our strength and zeal in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Reflection
The echo of Easter still resounds, a promise of new life, of death overcome, of a love that cannot be extinguished. Jesus’ words in John 15, spoken in the tender intimacy of His farewell discourse, take on an even deeper resonance in this post-Resurrection light. “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.” This isn’t just a comforting phrase; it’s the very bedrock of our existence, the source of an unshakeable, divine love poured out for us. The Resurrection has flung open the doors to this love in an unprecedented way. It’s a love that has conquered sin and death, and now, it invites us to “remain” in it.
To “remain” in His love isn’t a passive act. It’s an active, conscious choice, nurtured by obedience – “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.” The commandments themselves are an expression of this love, guidelines for living in the fullness of relationship with God and one another. Jesus, in His resurrected power, doesn’t just tell us to love; He shows us how by His own example of remaining in the Father’s love through perfect obedience, even unto death, and then bursting forth in new life.
This abiding love, this rootedness in Christ, is the wellspring of our joy – “that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” This isn’t a fleeting happiness, but a profound, resilient joy born from the certainty of being loved by the Risen Lord. It’s this very joy, this deep awareness of His resurrected presence and power within us, that fuels our response to the Great Commission. How can we not go out and make disciples when we are overflowing with the love and joy of the One who has conquered all? The power of the Resurrection isn’t just a historical event; it’s a present reality that transforms us from timid followers into bold witnesses. When we remain in His love, we are filled with His joy, and that joy becomes an irresistible force, compelling us to share the Good News, to draw others into this same life-giving, love-drenched relationship with the Risen Christ. The call to make disciples is not a burden, but the natural outflow of a heart set ablaze by resurrected love.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This passage draws us into greater intimacy with Jesus by revealing the depth and foundation of His love for us – a love mirroring the eternal love between the Father and the Son. By inviting us to “remain” in His love through keeping His commandments, Jesus offers a pathway to a constant, conscious connection with Him. This obedience is not a legalistic task, but a loving response that keeps our hearts aligned with His. As we strive to live in this love, experiencing the joy He promises, our understanding of His heart, His sacrifice, and His resurrected life deepens, fostering a profound and personal relationship.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post