“As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Abide in my love."
(John 15:9)
In the realm where feelings and actions intertwine,
There lies a love, divine and benign.
Not just a feeling, fleeting and brief,
But actions of love, bring us relief.
True joy springs from this love so deep,
In God's commands, we are to keep.
Abiding in love, a joyous ride,
In His commandments, we confide.
As the Father loves the Son, so pure,
So does Jesus, with a love so sure.
We're called to dwell in this love so vast,
A love from the beginning, to the last.
Reflecting this love in our relations,
Bridging hearts, across the nations.
Jesus shares these words, a joyous feat,
That His joy in us, may be complete.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You today, acknowledging that love is not just about feelings, but also about actions. We understand that true joy comes from abiding in Your love and living according to Your commandments.
As Jesus is loved by You, so He loves us. We are called to remain in this love, reflecting it in our relationships with others. Help us, Lord, to live out this love in our daily lives, to show kindness and compassion to those around us.
Jesus shares these words so that His joy may be in us and our joy may be complete. We pray for this joy, Lord, a joy that is complete and everlasting. Fill us with Your love and joy, and guide us in our actions.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
III: The Book of Glory
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
John 15:1-17
Gospel Acclamation
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
Gospel | John 15:9-11
9 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 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. 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
Love is not just about feelings, but also about actions. True joy comes from abiding in God’s love and living according to His commandments. As Jesus is loved by the Father, so He loves us. We are called to remain in this love, reflecting it in our relationships with others. Jesus shares these words so that His joy may be in us and our joy may be complete.
Background:
John 15:9-11 is a part of the discourse that Jesus had with His disciples, often referred to as the “Farewell Discourse”, which took place after the Last Supper and before His crucifixion. This discourse is recorded in John chapters 14 to 17.
In John 15:9-11, Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
The background of this passage is deeply rooted in the relationship of love that binds the Father, the Son, and the disciples into one. The phrase “Just as the Father has loved me…;” “…just as I have loved you” (John 15:9, 12) is a key motif in John’s theology, revealing the mutual relationship of the Father, the Son, and the disciple community. As the Father has loved, so the Son loves. The Son’s love imitates and mirrors the Father’s love.
This passage is about abiding in love. The abiding relationship of the vine and branches, which culminates in the bearing of much fruit, is now given further delineation in terms of love. To “abide in the Son’s love” is to know oneself as abiding in that same love which originates in the relationship of Father and Son.
Learning Lessons:
John 15:9-11 offers several important lessons for us:
The Importance of Love: The passage emphasizes the centrality of love in our relationship with God and others. As Jesus is loved by the Father, so He loves us. We are called to remain in this love, reflecting it in our relationships with others.
Obedience to Commandments: Jesus links remaining in His love with obedience to His commandments. This teaches us that love is not just about feelings, but also about actions. It involves living according to God’s commandments.
Imitation of Christ: Just as Jesus has kept His Father’s commandments and remains in His love, we are called to do the same. This calls us to imitate Christ in our actions and attitudes.
Joy in Love: Jesus shares these words so that His joy may be in us and our joy may be complete. This teaches us that true joy comes from abiding in God’s love and living according to His commandments.
Mutual Relationship: The passage reveals the mutual relationship of the Father, the Son, and the disciple community. As the Father has loved, so the Son loves. The Son’s love imitates and mirrors the Father’s love. We, as disciples, are invited into this circle of love.
These lessons remind us of the importance of love, obedience, imitation of Christ, and the pursuit of joy in our spiritual journey. They call us to deepen our relationship with God and others, living out our faith in practical ways.
The purpose of Jesus sharing these words was so that His joy may be in the disciples and their joy may be complete. This passage emphasizes the importance of keeping Jesus’ commandments as a way to remain in His love, mirroring how Jesus has kept His Father’s commandments and remains in His love.
This discourse provides a profound insight into the nature of God’s love and the kind of relationship that Jesus desires with His followers. It encourages believers to remain in Jesus’ love by obeying His commandments, thereby experiencing complete joy.
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
