At the beginning of the Fourth Gospel, John the Baptist watches Jesus walk by and exclaims to two of his disciples, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36, NRSV). The two disciples begin to follow Jesus. When he turns and sees them following, he asks, “What are you looking for?” They reply, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” to which Jesus responds, “Come and see.” So they do, and they remain with him that day (John 1:36-39, NRSV). Staying, remaining, abiding (these are various ways that the Greek verb menein can be translated), is the primary response of a disciple. Different from the Synoptic Gospels, where disciples are more often seeking to understand who Jesus is, in the Fourth Gospel, the search is framed in terms of knowing where Jesus abides.
One of the key ways to abide in Jesus is through his word. Jesus tells those who believe in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Conversely, those who oppose him and look for an opportunity to kill him do so “because there is no place in you for my word” (John 8:31-38, NRSV).
Another mode of abiding with Jesus is through Eucharist. After he feeds the multitude, Jesus tells his followers, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them” (John 6:56, NRSV). This mutual indwelling, we in Christ and Christ in us, is deepened each Sunday through the word and at the table.
I offer this collection of reflections on the Scripture readings for each Sunday and solemnity for the Lectionary Year C as a weekly aid to enter more deeply into the abiding word, and to enable a renewed response to remain with Jesus. These reflections first appeared in America magazine, from November 22, 2010 to November 14, 2011 (vol. 203, no. 15–vol. 205, no. 15), and have been slightly edited for this volume.
I invite you to establish a pattern of dwelling with the word each day, if possible. Some suggestions for how to approach the word follow. Many find it helpful to set aside the same block of time each day, and to sit in one particular place, in a chapel, or in a favorite easy chair, claiming this as your sacred time and sacred space. Sit with your spine straight, feet flat on the floor, and concentrate on your breathing. As you breathe in, and breathe out, invite the Spirit, whom Jesus promised will abide with us always (John 14:17), to open your mind, eyes, ears, and heart to the word that the Holy One wants to give you this day. Consciously set aside all other concerns, distractions, and worries. Imagine leaving them outside the door of your holy space. If they try to intrude into your prayer, tell them they have to wait until you have finished, and that you will pick them up again later.
Open the Scriptures and read the text slowly and contemplatively. Savor each word and phrase. Imagine yourself as one of the characters in the story if the text is a narrative. What do you see? hear? smell? feel? Read through the text again slowly and prayerfully. Is there a particular word or phrase that catches your attention? Stay with that word or phrase and let it take deeper root in you. Wait patiently for whatever it is that is being revealed to you in that word. Even if there is no clear insight or special meaning that emerges, trust that the word is abiding in you and unleashing its transformative power in you. Let yourself be led to see differently, for example, from the perspective of those made poor, of women, or of those not like yourself. Set aside what you “know” the text means and let yourself be surprised by the Spirit. Respond with thanks for what has been given to you by the abiding One. Hold on to a word or phrase from the Scripture and return to it throughout the day. Jot it down in your prayer journal, so you can return to it at another time. Let its meaning continue to unfold as you abide in it and it in you.
In the Gospel of John, as Jesus approaches his death, he tells his disciples that he prepares a dwelling place for each one, so that where he is they may also be. Thomas struggles, insisting he does not know the way. Jesus assures him that Jesus himself is the way, the truth, and the life. The abiding place, then, is not a special “room with a view,” so to speak, but is Jesus himself. Abiding in Jesus leads also to indwelling with the One who sent him and with the Spirit, as Jesus prayed for oneness, “I in them” and “they in us” and “I in them” and “you in me” (John 17:20-23).
The gift of abiding in Christ and Christ in the believer is a priceless treasure meant not only for oneself. It is a fruitful gift, one that is intended to be shared with others, producing a harvest of transformative love (John 15:1-8).
Barbara E. Reid, OP
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2012