God’s Intent for Us
- davidwperk
- Apr 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The Second Week in Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
15:1’I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.. . . . 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. . . . 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 959)
Psalms, AM 119:1-24; PM 12, 13, 14
Exod. 15:22––16:10 1 Pet. 2:1-10 John 15:1-11
Today we celebrate the Feast of Pierre Tielhard de Chardin. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Grapes emerge from the richness of moist soil in response to the sun’s energy, nurtured by the root system and the vine. They are totally dependent on that energy and vital connection for their very existence. They then sprout from the vine; the vine is their link to life-sustaining nurture. How can we explain the existence of Christian community and of the graces of Christ in individual lives other than by the presence and activity of Christ within and among us?
Why are we Christians? What brought us to faith? Or, who? Ultimately, someone driven by Christ’s love brings those new to the the community to faith. My faith emerged during childhood, as does the faith of many. Some come to faith in the context of an adult relationship in the warm sun of the love and teaching and example of a friend or relative or coworker. As Jesus put it, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
What does it mean to abide in Christ? That always has seemed a murky idea to me. But, according to the last paragraph in today’s reading, it means to remain in Christ’s love. Given the image of the vine and branches, we can imagine a vital, living connection with Christ. Jesus’ inner presence functions like that vine—the source of divine live and love in our experience.
It makes sense to me to think of abiding in Christ as remaining where our faith has brought us, to maintain and draw on that living vital connection. We are to trust Jesus’ and depend on his presence. We are to live by the same faith that brought us into relationship with Jesus and the community.
Passages like this one tell us so much about God and God’s intent for us, a relationship of mutual openness and spiritual intimacy and abundance. As Jesus put it in John 10:10, “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.” I feel a sense of wonder that God intends such abundance for us and welcomes such closeness with us. That intent does not waver in spite of all our ambivalence and resistance and all the spiritual warts and freckles with which God must contend. We usually are rather picky about the people with whom we want to be intimate and open. Think of all the incompatibilities with which God must content to maintain that connection with us.
Today, join me in giving thanks for a relationship with such a God, one whose presence sustains us in ways beyond our knowing. Note verse 11: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” How is that for divine intent?
Rilke, the lyric poet, wrote The Book of Hours to give voice to the prayers of an Orthodox monk and God’s speech to the monk. This poem expresses so much of what our readings in John of late have contained. Rilke’s concept of the divine was not traditionally Christian, but the richness of the language, imagery and rhythm resonate with the radical inwardness of Christian mystical experience.
I am, you anxious one.
Don’t you sense me, ready to break
into being at your touch?
My murmurings surround you like shadowy wings.
Can’t you see me standing before you
cloaked in stillness?
Hasn’t my longing ripened in you
from the beginning
as fruit ripens on a branch?
I am the dream you are dreaming.
When you want to awaken, I am that wanting:
I grow strong in the beauty you behold.
And with the silence of stars I enfold
your cities made by time. +
+Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God, trans. Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy, intro by the translators (New York: Riverhead, 2005), p. 81.
Collect of the Day, Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 224)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Pierre Tielhard de Chardin, scientist and military chaplain (died 10 Apr 1955 CE.
Collect of the Feast of Pierre Tielhard de Chardin
Eternal God, the whole cosmos sings of your glory, from the dividing of a single cell to the vast expanse of interstellar space: We bless you for your theologian and scientist Pierre Tielhard de Chardin, who perceived the divine in the evolving creation. Enable us to become faithful stewards of your divine works and heirs of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Grace
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Disturb Us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of the things we possess we have lost our thirst for the water of life.
Stir us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery, where in losing sight of land we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hope, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope and love. Amen.
(Attributed to Sir Frances Drake upon departing to sail to the New World, 1577. Cited by The Right Rev. Clay Matthews, Clergy Retreat, Diocese of So. Virginia, 2004.)
A Prayer for Light
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
Daily Office Gospel, John 15:1-11
15:1’I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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