John 15:1-8
Abide is such a funny word in it's meaning. You can use it to say you can't abide that, meaning you won't live with it. You can say I'll abide by your decision, meaning even if you don't agree you'll accept it. Abide also means something which stays with you in memory and not lost. Jesus' example today is none of those. As a matter of fact this meaning is listed as an archaic use of the word, to live or dwell. This makes all the difference though.
I read up on vine dressing and grafting for today. Do you know when you graft something in it takes the life right into it. At least this is the principle, that the food, water, all the hidden things go right to the new branch and give it life. It makes me think of the woman at the well who doesn't understand where this eternal water is going to come from, or the crowds who don't understand what Jesus means when he talks about the bread which will feed us forever.
Abide, how often do we just abide? Live, dwell in a moment, inhabiting the space around us, stopping to smell the roses. Abiding is a response to the risen Jesus. When we don't abide we loose our habitation, the places where we are to dwell for the support of our very life flow. Abiding feeds us, waters us, gives us growth to be able to bear fruit in the world. When we abide we are given our very life.
So first, water because the encounter with the woman at the well comes first in John's gospel. When we abide we are given the water, no the wellspring which is abundant and free. It keeps us hydrated, animates our being. When we are still and know God within us we are abiding in Christ. We pick up his very lifeblood. One which helps us see the abundance around us. So what does it mean to abide?
Abiding is an intentional act. All acts we do as a spiritual practice are intentional. They are meant to lead us to the source of life. It may not happen right off, but we need to persist in trying. Whether it is in reading the scriptures, daily prayer at a certain time everyday, prayer beads, the examen, or even doing the daily office (there are many apps available for this) these are the tools we can use to become connected. These all help us to take intentional time to abide.
When we abide we are fed the bread of life. We start to notice changes within and without us. We are able to see how valuable Jesus is and how valuable God is. What things help us to grow. When do we need a change in practice because we are feeding off stale bread? Practices are great to have, yet if we feel we are not abiding or there is no wellspring of life within us this is usually an indication to change what we are doing.
Sometimes it is even of value to intentionally go on a retreat or to go to a specific place which helps us to dwell in Jesus. All of this is to lead us into recognizing when we have encounters with Christ, when we take Christ in, when we see abundance, and when we act out of scarcity and out of sync with God. Because it is all connected. This is why Jesus uses the example of the vine. When we are connected to the true source of life there is nothing we can't accomplish. Being connected to life, vitality, the deepest well of joy and abundance helps us to go out and do the same for others. We can't keep it all to ourselves and it bursts forth in fruit.
The vine and branches are one, just as we are one in Christ. The source of all life. When we connect into this it is our very life we find. So find the time to abide, to dwell in Jesus who dwells in God. The creator and source of it all. We will find the seeds of blessing in ourselves and be able to bear the fruit of the vine, the sweetest grapes of abundant life lived because we have taken the time to connect with our source of life.
Abide is such a funny word in it's meaning. You can use it to say you can't abide that, meaning you won't live with it. You can say I'll abide by your decision, meaning even if you don't agree you'll accept it. Abide also means something which stays with you in memory and not lost. Jesus' example today is none of those. As a matter of fact this meaning is listed as an archaic use of the word, to live or dwell. This makes all the difference though.
I read up on vine dressing and grafting for today. Do you know when you graft something in it takes the life right into it. At least this is the principle, that the food, water, all the hidden things go right to the new branch and give it life. It makes me think of the woman at the well who doesn't understand where this eternal water is going to come from, or the crowds who don't understand what Jesus means when he talks about the bread which will feed us forever.
Abide, how often do we just abide? Live, dwell in a moment, inhabiting the space around us, stopping to smell the roses. Abiding is a response to the risen Jesus. When we don't abide we loose our habitation, the places where we are to dwell for the support of our very life flow. Abiding feeds us, waters us, gives us growth to be able to bear fruit in the world. When we abide we are given our very life.
So first, water because the encounter with the woman at the well comes first in John's gospel. When we abide we are given the water, no the wellspring which is abundant and free. It keeps us hydrated, animates our being. When we are still and know God within us we are abiding in Christ. We pick up his very lifeblood. One which helps us see the abundance around us. So what does it mean to abide?
Abiding is an intentional act. All acts we do as a spiritual practice are intentional. They are meant to lead us to the source of life. It may not happen right off, but we need to persist in trying. Whether it is in reading the scriptures, daily prayer at a certain time everyday, prayer beads, the examen, or even doing the daily office (there are many apps available for this) these are the tools we can use to become connected. These all help us to take intentional time to abide.
When we abide we are fed the bread of life. We start to notice changes within and without us. We are able to see how valuable Jesus is and how valuable God is. What things help us to grow. When do we need a change in practice because we are feeding off stale bread? Practices are great to have, yet if we feel we are not abiding or there is no wellspring of life within us this is usually an indication to change what we are doing.
Sometimes it is even of value to intentionally go on a retreat or to go to a specific place which helps us to dwell in Jesus. All of this is to lead us into recognizing when we have encounters with Christ, when we take Christ in, when we see abundance, and when we act out of scarcity and out of sync with God. Because it is all connected. This is why Jesus uses the example of the vine. When we are connected to the true source of life there is nothing we can't accomplish. Being connected to life, vitality, the deepest well of joy and abundance helps us to go out and do the same for others. We can't keep it all to ourselves and it bursts forth in fruit.
The vine and branches are one, just as we are one in Christ. The source of all life. When we connect into this it is our very life we find. So find the time to abide, to dwell in Jesus who dwells in God. The creator and source of it all. We will find the seeds of blessing in ourselves and be able to bear the fruit of the vine, the sweetest grapes of abundant life lived because we have taken the time to connect with our source of life.
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