“As the Father loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.” (John 15:9-17) What does it mean to ‘remain’ in Jesus’ love?
The Greek word for ‘remain’ suggests a steadfast relationship — heart and soul in unity. It is not a fleeting emotion but a steadfast commitment and an invitation to a transformative relationship.
On March 5, 1865, Saint Peter Julian Eymard reflected on this passage (NR 44,80): “What does it mean to abide in the love of Jesus Christ? It’s about making him your center of life. Now, this center must be the Eucharist, and that is Jesus.”
Father Eymard goes further. He asked himself: “Is Jesus the center of my heart? Yes, in extraordinary suffering. Yes, in the first moment of recognition, in the extraordinary. But not in the ordinary moments of life. I don’t think; I don’t desire or act in Jesus as my center. This is the truth, a fact that is too certain and a very sad one.”
To remain in Jesus’ love is to allow God’s love to permeate our lives and thoroughly guide our actions and attitudes. It is also about striving to love others as profoundly and selflessly as Jesus loves us. We are not alone. We are connected to Jesus and each other.
Father Eymard continues: Come, O my soul, let us go out of the world. Get out of yourself. Leave yourself. Go to the God of the Eucharist. He wants you. He wants to live with you, to give himself to you, to live in you. Be in Jesus what human nature was in his divine person in his Incarnation…
Abiding in Jesus is to join in his mission of love. It’s about being entrusted with his teachings and sent out to bear fruit that will last.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today, humbled and in awe of your love for us. Help us, Lord, to remain in your love, to make it our home and our guiding principle. Empower us to love others as you have loved us. As we strive to bear fruit that will last, remind us that we do not do this alone. We are branches of the true vine, connected to you and each other. Strengthen this connection, Lord, and help us to bear fruit for Your glory. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
