Staying Put Spiritually

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Wednesday in Easter Week

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings

AM Psalm 97, 99; PM Psalm 115

Micah 7:7-15; Acts 3:1-10 or 1 Cor. 15:(29)30-41; John 15:1-11

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Gospel, John 15:1-11

15:1’I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 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.

David's Reflections

During the months I served as interim vicar at Church of the Cross in Charlottesville, VA, (August 2002-January 2003) I walked the church property numerous times. Two sets of grape vines grew on that hilltop site. They wind their tendrils around the trellises and sprout out those colorful and succulent little fruits.

Our Gospel represents God's people as a vineyard, an image familiar from Hebrew Scripture (See Isaiah 5; Matthew 20:1-15.) In this instance, Jesus compares himself to the central vine and the Christian community to the branches. We live in a vital union with him, and our life flows to us from him, as the life of the branches flow to it through the vine.

Verse 9 contains a remarkable statement, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." Jesus' love for us is a given; it simply is. He does not love us because of what we do, even though a superficial reading of verse 10 would lead one to think so. Jesus' love for us is prior to any obedience we render and actually evokes and enables that obedience. Isn't that what he says in verses 4-5? "Abide 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. I 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."

His love and presence make the difference between deadening religious activity and loving obedience. His love calls us, enables us, guides us. Our biggest challenge is to live in the place where we already have been placed, wrapped in God's love. We have all sorts of ways of short-circuiting that, one of the most notable being to assume that our being loved depends on our performance or obedience or worthiness. Or, we simply fail to nurture the relationship and to remember that his loving presence is so much a part of our lives.

Henri Nouwen once wrote: "God has given you a beautiful self. There God dwells and loves you with the first love, which precedes all human love."

(The Inner Voice of Love, p. 29).

Collect of the Day, Easter Sunday

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 222)

Wednesday in Easter Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 223)

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)

For the Diocese

O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop, Stacy, our priests Colley, David, and Jay, and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 817)

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)