Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me
~ from “The Breastplate of St. Patrick”
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
This is to My Father’s glory,
that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.
~ Jesus, King of The Universe, in John 15:4-9
There are days. Oh my. There are days when He shows up in our lives, pouring out an extra special portion of His Life in us. He speaks to us across every moment of our day. Words fail on days like these. They are but analogous to the truth that sparkles off the ripples on a lake cannot reveal its depth. But, even so, perhaps there is a moment or thought here that may edify a reader.
He is showing this writer something.
Jesus loves us. This is an attribute of G_d
Well, of course you say. He went to the cross for us! He loves us with the Love that made the worlds! He passionately loves us! He loves us like a good father! He is our friend! He is everything to us!
Yes. And it is more than that.
The Love that spoke light into being with a Word (read easily), also begot The Infinite from within Himself. The Father, in the deepest reaches of infinite Eternity, fully begot Himself within the Person of His Son. This was not just some creative act. This was infinite G_d making Himself even more complete.
And in this begetting is a relationship so real and so Loving, that any attempts to write the truth of this Love only cheapen the thought by polluting the page with characters. Suffice it to say this relationship is the Truest of True Love.
And… it is with this Love that Jesus Loves you (and me)!
Wow.
It get’s even better.
We are in Him. We are utterly one with Him. We are united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. We are, in Him, brought right into this eternal, epic-Love relationship between the Father and the Son.
Hang with this writer for a moment.
Everywhere we go, we are in Him. We are in His Love (this Love). So, if it is true that spirit is infinitesimal, i.e., that spirit is moving and fully contained within the smallest dimension of the fabric of existence, the converse then is equally true: His Presence is not a small place. It is everywhere that He is – which is everywhere.
So, the shadow of His wing is not a bomb-shelter, it is simply now. It is this place wherein we Live and move and have our being. We are fully covered, and in Him, in all ways in all places. It is not that we are now somehow bullet-proof. Bullets are simply irrelevant. As usual, I’m a little lost… But He is showing me that ‘in Him’ is infinitely more than some theological position in a textbook.
So, what is the takeaway here?
If we begin to grasp even a little of this truth of our position of Love with, in, by, through, and for G_d – might it begin to change how we operate our lives? Ya think!?!
Might it drive out fear?
Might it transform us into very strong, and confident people who really Love other people?
Might it bring fullness of joy?
Might it both fill us and give us a greater hunger for, and hope in Him?
Beloved (really!), this is a hugely important issue. G_d does not love us like some object upon which His love may simply rest (as WONDERFUL as that alone might be). No, G_d Loves us with the very Love which holds G_d Himself together in Trinity.
Get this: The Love which holds G_d together, is the same Love with which He Loves you (and me!); is the same Love in which we live and move and have our being.
This is very good news!
Jesus loves us. This is an attribute of G_d
Well, of course you say. He went to the cross for us! He loves us with the Love that made the worlds! He passionately loves us! He loves us like a good father! He is our friend! He is everything to us!
Yes. And it is more than that.
The Love that spoke light into being with a Word (read easily), also begot The Infinite from within Himself. The Father, in the deepest reaches of infinite Eternity, fully begot Himself within the Person of His Son. This was not just some creative act. This was infinite G_d making Himself even more complete.
And in this begetting is a relationship so real and so Loving, that any attempts to write the truth of this Love only cheapen the thought by polluting the page with characters. Suffice it to say this relationship is the Truest of True Love.
And… it is with this Love that Jesus Loves you (and me)!
Wow.
It get’s even better.
We are in Him. We are utterly one with Him. We are united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. We are, in Him, brought right into this eternal, epic-Love relationship between the Father and the Son.
Hang with this writer for a moment.
Everywhere we go, we are in Him. We are in His Love (this Love). So, if it is true that spirit is infinitesimal, i.e., that spirit is moving and fully contained within the smallest dimension of the fabric of existence, the converse then is equally true: His Presence is not a small place. It is everywhere that He is – which is everywhere.
So, the shadow of His wing is not a bomb-shelter, it is simply now. It is this place wherein we Live and move and have our being. We are fully covered, and in Him, in all ways in all places. It is not that we are now somehow bullet-proof. Bullets are simply irrelevant. As usual, I’m a little lost… But He is showing me that ‘in Him’ is infinitely more than some theological position in a textbook.
So, what is the takeaway here?
If we begin to grasp even a little of this truth of our position of Love with, in, by, through, and for G_d – might it begin to change how we operate our lives? Ya think!?!
Might it drive out fear?
Might it transform us into very strong, and confident people who really Love other people?
Might it bring fullness of joy?
Might it both fill us and give us a greater hunger for, and hope in Him?
Beloved (really!), this is a hugely important issue. G_d does not love us like some object upon which His love may simply rest (as WONDERFUL as that alone might be). No, G_d Loves us with the very Love which holds G_d Himself together in Trinity.
Get this: The Love which holds G_d together, is the same Love with which He Loves you (and me!); is the same Love in which we live and move and have our being.
This is very good news!
Even here and now, whenever the heart begins to burn with a desire for God, she is made able to receive the uncreated light and, inspired and fulfilled by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, she tastes the joys of heaven. She transcends all visible things and is raised to the sweetness of eternal life…. Herein truly is perfect love; when all the intent of the mind, all the secret working of the heart, is lifted up into the love of God.
~Richard Rolle of Hampole (c. 1300-1349)
