John 14:15-21 (NRSV)
Read John 14:15-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
Verse 18"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. Verse 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. Verse 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Verse 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."
Devotion
The gospel reading for this week speaks not only of loving but also of living ("because I live, you also will live" [v. 19]), and specifically living in each other: "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (v. 20), and "You know him, because he abides with you" (v. 17). Abiding is a strong theme throughout the Gospel of John. Jesus' staying and remaining with his followers was clearly an important point for John's community. One way we can allow Jesus to abide in us—to feel him in us and us in him—is to proclaim his good news boldly to our neighbors. This is also another way we can love Jesus and keep his commandments. Even when we feel alone or think our voice is not commanding enough on its own, we can know that we have not been "orphaned," that "Jesus is coming to us" (v. 18).
Prayer
Abiding God, help us to feel you in us through the gracious presence of your son Jesus Christ, our advocate. Help us to live into our proclamation knowing that you live in it, too, animating it with your love and truth. In Jesus' living name. Amen.