What joy do you give to others? What is joy for you? The gift of joy has to be given and then received and it will work both ways for the recipient and for you. The joy we give and receive comes from God and stays with us. It follows Jesus’ words explaining the divine-human relationship as akin to vinegrower-vine-branches where the vinegrower becomes the vine to connect and nourish the branches.
He continues to expound upon the theme of abiding and fruitfulness but shifts more explicitly to name love as the connecting agent. Love is the most difficult thing, but it is also the most necessary thing. Love is the antidote to human shortcomings. Love is a commitment to consistently put another person’s wellbeing and happiness before your own. It’s the love a spouse has for another when they put the other’s needs or desires before their own. It’s the love that overlooks another’s faults and focuses on their endearing qualities. It is the love parents have for their children when they play with a child even though they are too tired to move. It is the willingness to lay down one’s life for another to protect that person from pain.
True love is hard. It is demanding. It requires virtue and brings out the best in all involved in the love relationship. To be able to withstand difficulties and disruptions, we must love one another–and remember what love looks like.
This is a vision and mission statement of Jesus. It highlights the love of Jesus for us, his call, and his hope that we will bear fruit. When Jesus said, “It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” He picked me! He picked you! How do we bear fruit that will remain? We are destined to bear fruit. The call of Jesus is to share in the salvation of the world, in making the world a better place to live in for everyone. The follower of Jesus is committed to care of the earth and care for others. Love for the earth and love of each and all is fruit that will last.
Source: Reflections by Bob
JcgregSolutions 