The Feast of Saint Athanasius | Thursday 2 May 2024

Today is Thursday 2 May, the feast of Saint Athanasius, in the 5th week of Eastertide.

The community of Taizé sing Toi, tu nous aimes. “You love us, Lord, source of life.” As I listen, I remind myself that I am in the presence of God right now, that God is looking on me now with love.

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 15:9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 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. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. 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. 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. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Imagine for a moment you are one of the disciples in the scene… What feelings arise in you as you hear Jesus say, “You are my friend,” and as you hear him say “I love you”? How does that make you feel?

And what about those words, “I chose you”, “I chose you, to go and bear fruit”? How does it feel to hear Jesus speak those words to you?

As you listen again to the words of Jesus, allow yourself to be at home in God’s love.

A common reaction to this passage is to have questions: Why me? Why am I loved? Why was I chosen? What fruit am I supposed to bear? If you have questions, God is listening – speak to the Lord about them now.

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.