Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Remain in Me
“Remain in me, as I remain in you…” (John 15:4)
In times of weariness or overwhelm, I am simultaneously comforted and challenged by Jesus the True Vine, as described in John 15. That He is the vine and I am a branch (among many) comes as a gentle assurance and a reality check. In John 15:4-10, Jesus is not saying produce, produce, produce. Rather, He is saying remain, remain, remain.
To remain on the vine is to rest in Jesus, not only in prayer but in trust. It means returning again and again to His word, His presence in the Eucharist, and His mercy in the confessional. Remaining in Jesus is not clinging by our own strength; rather, we allow ourselves to be held by His grace. It’s a subtle but significant interior shift that takes some practice.
For the Journey:
I know it’s Wednesday, but spend some (extra) time today in prayer with Jesus, perhaps reading today’s Gospel, John 15:1-8.
Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections