Wednesday 14 May 2025 - Abide in my love

Wednesday 14 May 2025

Today is Wednesday the 14th of May, the feast of St Matthias, in the 4th week of Eastertide.    Jon Guerra sings, ‘In The Beginning Was Love’.     In the beginning was love  And the love was with God  And the love was God    He was with God in the beginning   And the world was made through him  And so was I     And there was light  And the light was the light of heaven   And there was goodness   And the goodness walked the earth   And there was beauty   And the beauty would sing  Like a voice in the wilderness  Calling my name   And before I knew what love was   Love was in the beginning     In the beginning was the song   And the song was with God  And the song was God    He was the voice in the beginning   And the stars would sing for him   And so will I     And there was light  And the light was the light of heaven   And there was goodness   And the goodness walked the earth   And there was beauty   And the beauty would sing  Like a voice in the wilderness  Calling my name   And before I knew what love was   Love was in the beginning     The light shines in the dark  The dark has not overcome it  Love was in the beginning  Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.    John 15:9-17  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.  ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.  ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.’ Take a moment to look back over your life. Where have you found Jesus’ love? This same love that Jesus received from the Father and gives to you… Do any moments stand out?     ‘If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love...This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ As you continue looking back over your life, notice the ways you have abided in this love. How have you stayed close to Jesus?    We hear in this passage the movements of Jesus, followed by beautiful consequences. As you listen again, notice the poetic dance of Jesus’ words:    As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you  I appointed you to go and bear fruit An action from Jesus, towards us.  Jesus does something, so that we might be loved, bear fruit, love one another...  What do you notice?   John 15:9-17  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.  ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.  Has a particular line or phrase remained with you today from the passage? Stay with whatever is lingering and savour it a little longer with the Lord...   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.   As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be  World without end  Amen