The word “remain” features very prominently in chapter fifteen of St. John’s Gospel. Given the date of composition for this Gospel, his focus on “remaining” is probably a contextually inspired concern.
As we probably all know, the early Christian Church was convinced that Jesus’ return after the Ascension would be quickly accomplished. St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians specifically states that he did not expect to die before Jesus’ return. By the time he write his letters to Timothy, he had come to realize that his previous statement had been premature. By the time St. John wrote his Gospel, most of the eye witnesses to Jesus’ life and ministry were gone. So there were many who were falling away from the faith, thinking that perhaps they had placed their hopes on Jesus in vain.
St. John’s Gospel is, consequently, a theological discourse on the life of Jesus rather than a biography. He writes about seven signs rather than the many miracles that Jesus wrought. Each of these signs points to the fact that Jesus was pointing them in a new direction. Rather than clinging to the nation of Israel, Jesus was asking them to cling to the Father through Him. He states unequivocally that remain in Him is simply a matter of keeping his commandments; not the 613 commandments of Judaism but the two commandments to love God and love your neighbor.
“Remaining” in Jesus is still an issue that all of us must face. Over the years society and culture have been victims of many different ideologies and philosophies. Keeping the commandments is now often looked upon as a chain that shackles us rather than frees us. We find more joy in following our own pursuits rather than in serving the needs of others. Personal freedom has lost its concurrent partner of personal responsibility. Being true to oneself is courted as being far more important than being true to our faith in Jesus. Personal convenience has become our goal.
The message to “remain” in Christ’s love is all but drowned out in our world today. Everyone expects the Church to change its rules. No one admits that the WE are the Church and that change must come about in our lives
The pursuit of happiness, one of the “inalienable rights” of the Declaration of Independence, has come to be the watchword of so many people. What they do not realize is that true happiness comes only when we remain in Jesus. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator