Lent: Day 25

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word I have spoken to you. Dwell in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it dwells in the vine, so neither can you, unless you dwell in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you dwell in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you don’t dwell in me, you will be cut off like a branch that withers; these are good only to gather, throw into the fire, and burn. If you dwell in me, and my words dwell in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

“In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Dwell in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will dwell in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and dwell in his love. I have spoken these things to you that my joy may dwell in you, and that your joy may be made full.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down your life for your friends. You are my friends, if you do what I tell you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what the master does. I have called you friends because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should last; whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give you.

 “I tell you to love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. You are not of the world because I chose you out of the world. Therefore the world hates you. Remember the word I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they would keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t have been guilty; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

Whoever hates me, hates my Father also. If I hadn’t done among them the works no one else did, they wouldn’t have been guilty. But now have they seen and hated both me and my Father. This fulfilled what was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

Reflection

 

The word “dwell” appears repeatedly in this passage, and is sometimes translated as “abide,” “remain,” or “live in.” This intimate connection with Jesus allows us to be fruitful even when the world stands in opposition to us. What does this idea of “dwell” look like in your life? Would you say your connection with Jesus is becoming more intimate or that you are drifting apart? 

Prayer: Draw me close to you, Lord, that I might increasingly dwell in your love and extend your love to others.