Wednesday 18 May 2022

Today is Wednesday the 18th of May in the fifth week of Easter.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Abide With Me’. As you listen, pause to notice how close you feel to the Lord today. You might like to share your intention to move closer to the Lord during this time of prayer today…

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, O abide with me


Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O thou who changest not, abide with me


I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me


Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee
In life, in death, abide with me


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 15:1-8
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

In today’s reading Jesus tells his disciples, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’
Imagine what would it be like to be a branch, joined to this vine? To be tended by the gardener and bear abundant fruit?
These vivid images suggest keeping very close to Jesus, even being attached to him.
What does it mean to you, to abide in Jesus and for him to abide in you?
‘Apart from me you can do nothing,’ Jesus tells us.
Right now, do you identify more with the withered branch, or the fruitful one?
Talk with Jesus about this. What does he want to say to you about your abiding?
Listen for his voice in this moment of quiet.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.