Christian program: Remain in Him
Once I asked one lady why she wanted to become a Christian, she replied with one sentence: "Christianity is not perfectionism, it is a bond with Christ." She aptly defined the essence of our faith. On the day of Baptism, we were united to Christ and we are grafted into Him, like a branch into a vine.
Jesus makes it clear that our duty is to foster union with Him. The words "remain in me and I will remain in you" have the character of a programmed task in the Christian life. In today's Gospel the word " remain " appears seven times, and in the entire Gospel of John about 40 times. This word in Greek is menoand can be translated in many ways: to remain, stay, live. It appears in the first chapter of John's Gospel. There it is included in the first question of the disciples to Jesus: "where are you staying?", Which can also be translated: "where are you?" "Where do you live?" When Jesus then invited them to his place of abode, the disciples "stayed" with him all day (the Gospel used this verb meno again). They entered the space of Jesus' "being" and they themselves "remained" in it. It can be said that it was both an image of baptism, that is, of entering into communion with Jesus, and an image of Christian life after baptism, that is, being with Jesus.
Today's Gospel says the same thing: "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither. " Unity with Jesus brings many fruits in life, but unfortunately sometimes they are lost. Therefore, anything that strengthens this bond is precious, and anything that weakens it is threatening and dangerous.
The fundamental question, then, is: what strengthens our relationship with Jesus? Returning to the disciples at the beginning of the Gospel of John, who remained in the place where Jesus was, we come to the conclusion that we can similarly: enter literally into the space of Jesus' presence, that is, visit the temple. This happens above all during Holy Mass, because then we have the most intimate relationship with Jesus: in Holy Communion. The moment of receiving Communion is the fullest fulfillment of Jesus' words that we abide in him and he abides in us.
Staying in the place of Jesus' presence also takes place during visits to the church outside the Holy Mass, especially when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. We should wish that there would be as many places of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as possible, especially during so call pandemic restrictions.
Deepening a relationship with Jesus is also possible through family and individual prayer in one's own home and through reading of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus' exhortation to "remain in me" suggests that this duration should be for a certain period of time. Jesus does not say how much time we should devote to praying or reading the Bible, but it should all "last", so it seems worth setting a time for meeting Jesus: for example, 15 minutes a day.
Being in union with Jesus is not only about time spent in church or in individual prayer at home. We should be in union with Him throughout our daily lives. And it is not so much about constantly thinking about Jesus as about living according to God's commandments. Today's second reading speaks of this, beautifully synthesizing the ten commandments and reducing them to two: faith and love: " And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them."
We also need to ask other questions: what weakens our relationship with Jesus? What keeps our faith from bearing fruit in daily life? What causes our religious life to dry up? Certainly, every sin weakens our union with the Lord. Venial sin makes it light, although it is worth remembering that the drop pierces the rock and even light sins can break the relationship with Jesus. A grave sin makes it serious. It does not necessarily lead to loss of faith immediately, but it makes faith more and more dead.
Although in times of epidemics we have a dispensation from participation in the Sunday Eucharist and it is possible to participate in the Mass broadcasts. We must ask ourselves whether the constant use of virtual and broadcasted Masses does this weaken our faith, especially if we have the opportunity to participate in real Masses. Isn’t that we participate in other types of meetings with people but do not take part in Holy Masses? Such behavior becomes sinful and serious, against a relationship with Jesus.
I live to such an extent as I remain in Christ. God gives his life to me, and because God is infinite, there is no end, my love can perfect forever. At St. John the word remain is a very strong word. It expresses the inner relationship that unites God: Remain in my love, just as I remain in the Father's love. Jesus demands to remain in this rooting, he supports his teaching by threatening to wither. Life, holiness, love and immortality flow from the crucified and risen Christ to every Christian heart.
The flower withers, and the earth does not bear fruit when they lack light and water. This is a process that can be quickly noticed. It is different in the case of a man, a spiritual and corporeal being. Yes, the disease weakens or destroys. And we see it. What about the spiritual sphere? The case is more complicated. The interior of a person can become a space that will slowly but effectively dry up. This is what happens when a person moves towards exuberant individualism or begins to draw from what is contaminated. So, on the one hand, isolation, on the other, spiritual weeds. The consequence is always enslavement in the form of selfishness or dependence. The fruits of such a life become contaminated.
Union with Jesus is first the joy of remaining. It is connected with the constant cleansing and the presence of the Lord who connects us tohis branch. It becomes a source of life-giving stream. He lets his grace into the spiritual circulation in man. This gift comes to us especially through the reality of the sacrament of penance and the Eucharist. Faithfulness to these signs of grace brings transformation and gives rise to spiritual growth. Each confession is an exit from the vicious circle of sin, it becomes a transforming touch. Received Holy Communion is the presence, the awareness that I am not alone. He – the Lord and Savior - abides in me, sanctifies and gives me a new enthusiasm.
Union with Jesus is also the joy of fruiting. An abundance of life measured by openness, devotion, service, being with others. An abundance of love that each day remembers that "without me you can do nothing."
Until Tomorrow
fr. george