Christ’s Joy – Reflection on John 15:9-17
Continuously holding the mystery of Jesus as our friend in our hearts strengthens our ability to treat everyone like friends. With Jesus’s all-embracing and unconditional love, our human weaknesses will melt away, making room for Jesus’s love to flow to others. I pray that the world sees the evidence of Christians behaving like Christ, asking for and trusting the Father in Christ’s name. We share in Christ’s joy when the Father becomes present to us. This acknowledgment can naturally allow the light of His Son’s grace to surface from within our minds and hearts.
Our Lord Jesus Christ by James Tissot (full resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Eastertide Reflections
John 15:9-15 – Scripture (NRSV Bible)
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this daily Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina John 15:9-17 Reflection – Share in Christ’s joy.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections of the Gospel readings or other contemplative material to this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 15 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Christ’s Joy
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.