Faith

Abide in me – Wednesday, 5th week of Easter – Acts 15:1-6/ John 15:1-8

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/when-a-council-gave-sound-counsel/ based on the first reading taken from the day’s liturgy.

John 14:31b ends with the words, “rise let us be on our way.” Just before this Jesus has given the apostles his gift of peace. The peace that Jesus promises is not an escape from trouble but rather the courage to face it calmly. As he spoke these words of peace, Jesus and His disciples left the table and slowly made their way toward the Garden of Gethsemane and his passion. It is clear that they did not leave  immediately  (John 18:1), but here began to.

At some stage, which is not clear to us, Jesus gives them another teaching. Central to this teaching is John 15:5, “Abide in me as I abide in you.” The word abide appears 9 times in verses 1-8, which highlights the focus of this section. This teaching that highlights our Lord’s own relationship with his Father is meant to throw light on what our relationship with him should be. For good measure and for the sake of clarity he thrown in a ‘mashal’ taken from viticulture. A ‘mashal’ is not exactly a parable nor is it an allegory but a semitic form that includes an image and its application to real life.

It would seem odd if I tell you that the hymn that we have grown so fond of, ‘abide with me,’ focuses on ‘activity’; not the increase of it but rather the ceasing of it. The focus of Jesus calling is to be with him; the doing follows naturally. The very word abide sounds sleepy and dull leaving most people thinking of ‘abiding’ as a kind of ‘free ride.’ To abide with the Lord is anything but a free ride. Jesus tells us that abiding involves connectivity; not passive connectivity but one that leads to transformation.

Jesus says he is the true vine and the Father is the vine grower. The first thing the Father does to the son is to break off every branch that bears no fruit. A fruit tree may look beautiful with a thousand leaves on it but that is not the job of a fruit tree, or for that matter a vine. Dead branches need to be broken off and that being done there is no pause in the work at hand. The branches that do bear fruit need to be pruned so that it bears ‘more fruit.’ Now perhaps, you might understand, why I said that abiding is not a free ride. For those of us who abide with him, he asks more from us; more fruit.

Having told us what the father’s relationship is with his son, Jesus now asks the same from us. He is the vine we are the branches that need to abide in him. Our Lord wants to make a point, ‘you can’t do this by yourself.’ So many of us struggle to get our lives fixed, to get our brokenness fixed. Jesus is emphatic, you can’t do this by yourself you have to abide in me, because apart from me you can do nothing.

The vine was a common image used in the Hebrew Bible to speak of Israel as God’s people. John plays masterfully with the symbolism of this image. The vine grower is still God but the vine is not Israel. Now it is Jesus. And the branches, or the New Israel, are those who abide in him. We need to attach ourselves to Jesus’ words, his message, the Gospel, to ensure that we the Church, produce fruits. Apart from that there is nothing we can do (John 15:5). And whatever else we do we may be doing it for the wrong reasons.

Finally, there is the great promise; “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.” This is not the first time we hear this promise in the Gospel of John and it is certainly not to be interpreted as some kind of blank cheque; such as asking to win the first prize in a lottery or to have one’s enemy wiped out, or to be cured of a terminal sickness.

The promise is prefaced by an important and essential condition: we need to be IN Christ and to have our lives totally guided by his “words”, that is, his teaching, his vision of life. And, if we are with him, our prayer inevitably will be to be more deeply rooted in him because he is the Source of all life and all Meaning in life.

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Faith

We are citizens of heaven – Tuesday, 5th Week of Easter – Acts 14:19-28/John 14:27-31a

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/faith-without-falter/ based on the first reading of today taken from the Acts of the Apostles.

Jesus’ death is imminent, yet his concern is for the disciples rather than himself. He reassures them that they will not be alone, and promises to send them the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus will be present with them through the Holy Spirit, his disciples need not be anxious. Chapter 14 begins with Jesus’ exhortation, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Now again Jesus exhorts, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid,”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers the disciples another gift. He gives them the gift of peace. This gift is offered not only to his immediate disciples but also to all who love him and keep his word (v. 23). Yet this is a peace that is unlike the peace the world gives. This is Jesus’ last will and testament. He had little to leave; even his clothes would soon be the property of the crucifixion squad of soldiers. But there was one thing he could give; the gift of peace.

The Greek word for peace is eirênê, but this is surely a translation of the traditional Hebrew greeting shalom. Shalom was a greeting that passed the lips of any Jew. Jesus took this normal good-bye and filled it with deep strength and meaning. Shalom signifies more than the absence of conflict; it is a profound and holistic sense of well-being. It is the kind of peace which the world cannot give, but can only come from God. This gift of peace accompanies the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus breathes into his disciples as he sends them out in mission (20:22). The peace of this world is often based on distraction or deliberate blindness and lies. Jesus offers a better peace, a real peace.

The world offers us the peace of escapism, of avoiding trouble, of refusing to face things, of unreality as well as the absence of trouble or the denial of problems. The peace of the world is a peace that is sought through pleasure, satisfaction, and contentment. This peace comes from the ruler of the world; satan.

The end is near. “The prince of this world is at hand.” But the apostles are not to worry. Jesus knew that Satan was coming for Him. At that moment Judas Iscariot was arranging the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus could confidently and truthfully say that Satan had absolutely no hook, no foothold, no toehold of deception in Him. Satan could not push Jesus to the cross; Jesus went in loving obedience to God the Father and out of love for the world.

The challenge for us today is to admit confidently that satan has no hook, no foothold, no toehold on us. Even an inch of sin in our hearts means that we have given residence to the prince of this world. As we turn to the Lord, clinging to his promise of peace we are also called to promise that we will live as children of Gods kingdom, in his marvellous light. Today, would be a great day to bring out your spiritual boom. Clear the sin out of your life with one end of the broom while using the other end effectively on satan’s head.

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Faith

Conditions apply – Monday, 5th Week in Easter – Acts 14:5-18/John 14:21-26

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/we-are-no-gods/ based on the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles

I have long held that obedience is the fruit of love. When you obey it means you love the other enough to trust them. But to obey is also to do as you are asked, not as you wish. It means you surrender your will to the will of another.

When God gave us the commandments, they were not a negotiated deal or a fruit of intense discussion. They were given, they were to be obeyed because we were supposed to be ‘his people’ who loved him. Sadly, it is the fickleness of the human race that wants unbridled love and acceptance without the demands of being attached to that which brings guidance. We want to follow our understanding of God without his commandments and in return we promise him some vague ‘spirituality’ that we claim to have.

Jesus is clear, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me.” (John 14:21). If we do this then the Father too joins in the is love fest leading to a revelation of the love of Jesus to each of us who love him.

In the Gospel passage of today, Jesus has been teaching after having washed the apostles’ feet. What is interesting is, that this last supper has Jesus revealing himself completely and the apostles struggling with their acceptance of his words and actions. Peter did not want his feet washed. Philip was not satisfied and wanted to see the father and now Judas (not Iscariot) asks “how is it that will you reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

Who is this Judas? Judas or Jude is called “son of James” and listed among the Twelve in Luke 6:16. He appears again in a list in Acts 1:13. He is believed to be the ‘Thaddaeus’ of Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18. So this is the one who is the cousin of Jesus and the patron of the hopeless.

Jude wants to know why Jesus only reveals himself to his disciples and not to the world. Jesus’ response is that anyone who responds to Him with love will certainly experience His love. The love of Jesus is not for some, it is for all but conditions apply. The ‘world,’ by definition in John’s gospel, consists of those who turn their back on Jesus, his message and his love and that is why Jesus says, “He who does not love me does not keep my words.” So, in answering Judas, Jesus repeated the themes from the previous verses. Jesus would be revealed to and among the disciples through love, obedience, and union with the Father and the Son.

Finally, to those apostles and to us who love the lord, Jesus assures us all that he will not leave us alone. The word, parakletos is translated variously as Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, or Helper, and describes a Spirit who remains at our side forever (v. 16) to represent us, defend us, argue our case, give peace, or provide counsel as needed. the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, will help us to remember Christ’s teachings and to interpret those teachings for our immediate situation. The Paraclete, the one who stands beside us day and night, will make all things clear.

This is still an encouraging word today. The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, stands beside us to guide us. If we follow, the Spirit leads us to truth. If we obey, the Spirit leads us to life. But the blessings are not automatic. We must follow; we must obey. Conditions apply!

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Faith

I will do it – Saturday, 4th Week of Easter – Acts 13:44-52/ John 14:7-14

 Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/closed-door-open-window/ based on the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles

There is incredulity and extreme clarity, scattered over seven verses. Jesus has just answered Thomas’ question and then declared that no one comes to the father except through him and that knowing Jesus one knows the father. Philip is clearly not satisfied. He seems to reflect the never ending, insatiable world of doubt in the face of one more act of God’s love. He is not satisfied with the words and promises of Jesus. Like Thomas he wants to touch and feel and see and analise; “show us the father” he says.

It would be good to recall that the apostles are still sitting at the table of the Lord’s supper. He has washed their feet and has begun a private and intimate teaching. He has taught in public but now teaches privately from chapter 13 onwards. The Lord has been with the apostles for three years and one can understand the frustration when he says to Philip, “have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me?”

It is always difficult when you have to explain yourself repeatedly to others especially those closest to you. You would assume that our lives, our needs and our actions should have formed a thought pattern in the heart and the head of those around us and yet so often we are misunderstood and misjudged. Here were his closest friends who want proof, “show us the father.” If the doubts and barbs of the Jewish establishment were not hurtful enough here was one in the inner circle who wanted to be “satisfied.”

How can you say such things? that seems to be Jesus’ response. ‘To have seen me is to have seen the father’, is the response of Jesus. ‘The father and I are one for the father is in me.’ So, Jesus has to explain once again his unity with and dependence on the Father. Jesus explained why He was the only way to God; because He was and is the perfect representation of God. To know Jesus is to know God. Jesus repeated something emphasised in the Gospel of John; that Jesus lived and spoke in constant dependence upon God the Father and did nothing outside His authority and guidance.

In verse eleven Jesus tells Philip and the apostles, “believe me.” Jesus calls on Philip and the others to believe Him, not only to believe in Him; this seems to be a more personal appeal. Faith includes a recognition and acceptance in the words of God; for what Jesus says is true. This, for the believer, cannot be a matter of theory it has to be an act of faith.

This personal appeal to ‘believe him’ is followed with a promise and it backed with Jesus’ assurance. We who believe him will share in his ministry. We will do the same works that he has done and in fact we will do greater works. We just have to ask and Jesus will do it. (John 14:13). These great works that we are to do is not for our glorification, it is for the Father’s glorification through Jesus (John14:13) but we have to ask in his name (John 14:14).

Each one of us has the power to work these ‘greater works’ that Jesus speaks of. However, it demands faith in Jesus. So put your trust in his word and cling on to his promises.

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Faith

The fate of their faith – Friday, 4th Week in Easter – Acts 13:26-33/John 14:1-6

Read also https://www.pottypadre.com/speaking-truth-to-power-2/ based on the first reading of today.

Jesus has spoken of betrayal and death (13:21-30), and has been himself “troubled in spirit” (13:21.). Judas is, even now, in the midst of betrayal (13:30). The disciples can imagine danger lurking in the shadows, not only for Jesus, but for themselves. Jesus knows Peter will fail him and at once we need to understand that it does not shock Jesus that we fail. Human as we are, we want to die for the Lord but often we can’t live through a day for him and we fail him. The Lord surely is disappointed but he does not deny us.

Obviously, the mood in the room has changed. Twice already, Peter has been mildly chastised but chastised all the same; he did not want Jesus to wash his feet and now again when he is told he will deny the Lord. The room must have been filled with despair. If the de-facto leader of the apostles was to fail the Lord what would be the fate of their faith?

Jesus steps in, as he always does, to comfort the troubled hearts of the apostles and to comfort us; “do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe in me also.” It is very easy for our hearts to be troubled. We would like to live each day with a song on our lips but life always has a way of throwing us some lemons. Thinking positively, and making lemon juice with the limes thrown at us is a choice we could make but that is certainly not enough. We must train our hearts towards trusting in God and this is why Jesus gently admonishes the elven, “do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus calls the disciples to believe, not because of the situation but in spite of it; to be assured of things hoped for, to be convicted of things not seen. Jesus does not say there won’t be troubles he simply says when that happens do no trouble you heart for you need to trust. That trust must be placed in God and in Jesus.

Interestingly, Jesus assures them of a place in his father’s house. Even though we know that the apostles failed Jesus and he knew at the last supper that they would have failings; he still assured them of a ‘dwelling place’. This is a dwelling place filled with grace for those who loved him but yet had failings. This is not just any dwelling place, it is ‘the’ dwelling place of The Holy Trinity. There is no scarcity of space in this dwelling place for we are assured that there are many dwelling places for all and they have been prepared for us by Jesus himself.

Thomas is bewildered by all this conversation of this dwelling place. This very logical thinking man who has sadly been burdened by the title ‘doubting’ is actually seeking clarity. Perhaps while all the rest chose not to ask the obvious question, Thomas could not control himself. ‘We do not know where you are going so how will we know the way?’ Here is honest Thomas for you!

Think about it; it is the ‘questioning’ and ‘seeking’ Thomas whose question prompts Jesus to pronounce one of the most widely quoted words of salvation. “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except though me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus didn’t say that He would show us a way; He said that ‘He is the way’. If we ask for the directions and someone tells us to turn left here and to turn right there, we are likely to get lost. However, if the person leads us to the destination, we are assured of getting there. That person becomes, for us, the way. Jesus does not simply point us to the Father, but is himself the pathway.

Jesus didn’t promise to teach us a truth; He said that ‘He is the truth’. The truth sets us free (8:32). Jesus is the truth in the flesh, and will leave us in the hands of the Spirit of truth (14:17; 15:26; 16:13). Jesus is the opposite of the devil, about whom he says, “there is no truth in him” (8:44).

Jesus didn’t offer us the secrets to life; He said that ‘He is the life.’ For the Jewish people, the Torah was the book of life. It instructed people in life-giving faith and practice. Now Jesus becomes the life-giver. He says, “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (10:10).

Jesus’ solution to perplexity is not a recipe; it is a relationship with him….abide in me

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