By Sister Betty Jane Lillie
Abide in my love

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalms 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

In Jesus’ last discourse with His disciples before His death, He described the relationship He wishes to have with them and with all His followers. The characteristic term is "abide." As the Father loves Jesus, so does Jesus love us. He calls us to abide in His love.

The way we understand what is meant by abiding in Jesus’ love is by keeping the command-ments. That message is long-standing in salvation history, and, in Jesus’ teaching, it is tied into the intimate and internalized love that involves the whole person. Union with Christ or incorporation into Christ had been represented by the image of the vine and the branches in the beginning of our chapter, and through that union, we bear much fruit (John 15:1-8). The reading continues with the promise of Jesus’ giving us joy so that our joy may be full (John 15:11).

The measure of the love of Christians is the love of Jesus himself for all of them. He sets before them the example of someone who lays down His life for His friends. They will later realize the reflection of His own death on the cross in His words to them. We notice also that Jesus spoke to them as His "friends." In the Hellenistic culture, that title was one of great honor. That made them His intimate and closest associates who would share with Him in the significance of His paschal mysteries. Further, Jesus communicated to them the revelation He received from His Father and entrusted them to preach it in His name. They were His chosen apostles. They did not choose Him; He chose them and appointed them to bear much fruit. The fruit bearing of the community/church of the new Israel would come through prayer, obedience to Jesus’ teaching and love (John 15:16-17).

In the First Letter of John, the community of believers received the same teaching. Those who love are born of God and know God (1 John 4:7). God is love, and God’s love was made manifest among us through the Son who was sent to give us life and be the expiation for our sins. It was not that we loved God first but that God first loved us. Thus, as God loves us, we ought also to love one another.

After Jesus’ historical presence was over, the apostles carried the message of salvation outward from Jerusalem. On Peter’s journey to Joppa and then to the house of a centurion named Cornelius in Caesarea, the apostle’s experience led him to affirm the universality of the message of salvation. God knows no partiality; He is Lord of all (Acts 10:34-36). In that instance, while Peter was still teaching those of the household, the Holy Spirit came upon them. This was a sign to Peter that He ought to proceed to baptize these Gentiles, too. So the preaching of the Gospel reached to those outside Judaism. This reflects the Lukan theology of the universality of the church.

With the Psalmist, we can raise songs of praise to the Lord who has done marvelous things. He has made known His victory to all the nations (Psalms 98).

(Sister Lillie is a member of the faculty at the Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati.)