21 May 2014 - real fruit flavour

21 May 2014 - real fruit flavour

Remain in me

Jesus tells us to remain in him.  The implication is to do so requires some participation on our part.  It is something which we (assisted by grace) do.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

We can remain in him because he is already with us.

Remain in me

But how?

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

We need his words to remain in us.  Jesus remains in us.  He continues to speak.  But we have to listen.  We have to internalize.  We have to treasure these things in our hearts like Mary does.  We have to actively read his word because it is here that we hear him speaking to us.
For one who completely shapes his life and worldview according to this word can count on the promise of Jesus, "ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you."  This is true precisely because Jesus remains in him and his words remain in him to such a great extent that this presence literally begin to shape what the man wants.  Not happening for us?  Delve more deeply into the word!

There are times when the word we have received isn't clear to us.  Our practice at such times should imitate Paul and Barnabas.  We should take our questions and "go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters".  We should take it to Jerusalem where we will be "welcomed by the Church" who will help us to understand.  The Church is enjoys a "compact unity" as a result of the Holy Spirit guiding it into all truth.   We are called to this unity but our understanding sometimes need to be pruned so that we can bear more fruit.  This isn't always enjoyable.  Yet, when we avail ourselves of the Church's help here, we should "go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."  Truth is here because this is the place where God most perfectly dwells. He prunes us not to destroy us but so that we can bear much fruit.  He prunes us so that the life that flows from the sacraments can fill us more and more.  When it does he can use us to build his kingdom.

By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”