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Gospel: 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 might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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One of the more interesting books I’ve read lately is titled, A Rabbi Talks With Jesus, by Jacob Neusner, an influential Jewish voice in America today.
In his book, Rabbi Neusner imagines himself dialoging with Jesus throughout the Lord’s public ministry as he tries to answer for himself, “Are you the long-awaited Messiah?”
In the end, Neusner follows Jesus to the entrance of Jerusalem, knowing that the Lord is about to be crucified. But he cannot go any further.
Neusner concludes his book with the words, “I wished him well, and I went home.” He sees Jesus as a great moral teacher, but not as the Messiah.
How many of our contemporaries are like him? They’ve heard the heart of the Gospel message, but remain unconvinced of its power to save.
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus urges his followers to “remain” in his love. What does that command mean for us, and what impact might it have on others?
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There are two dimensions.
The first is contemplative. The Lord calls his followers to strengthen the inner sanctuary of their own hearts – that place where we dialogue with him, sharing our questions, concerns, doubt, and, yes, love for him.
We must strengthen our own faith while sharing it with others. As the old saying goes, “You cannot give what you do not have.”
That personal intimacy with Christ thrusts us out into the world, showing others who Jesus is by word and deed, revealing what difference he’s made in our own lives.
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If we “remain” with the Lord by studying his Word, praying daily, and nourishing our hearts with the Eucharist, then we will draw others to Christ.
Even people like Rabbi Neusner – people of good will and deep faith, but who long to see an authentic Christian witness.
Try to be that person. As the old saying goes, “Preach always. Only when necessary, use words.”
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Image credits: (1) Road to Emmaus, Fritz von Uhde (2) All Israel News (3) SweetwaterNOW