Funeral-- Abide in Love

Abide in Love

John 15:9–17 GW

“I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete. Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do. The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends. You are my friends if you obey my commandments. I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. Love each other. This is what I’m commanding you to do.

John 15:5–10 GW

“I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me. Whoever doesn’t live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours. You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples. “I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love.

john 15:9-17

John 15:

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (+) and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We have been working through the Gospel of John this Easter Season in the Sunday lessons.

This past Sunday it was the verses I read from John about abiding in love.

Now I have to tell you there is an aspect of this lesson I didn’t share on Sunday.

That is about the word commandment.

I learned as a parent that sometimes you have to give orders. Just like Jesus did with the commandments because we humans are

Stubborn.

to Some degree that was what was going on between Penny and me the last year. After she had fallen. She and I were having a constant dialog about me bringing her communion at her seat instead of her walking up on Laurie’s arm to the rail.

You can guess who was winning the disagreement. Yes it wasn’t me. Although for a few times she did stay most of the time she determined she was going forward like she had for years.

Now although she didn’t hear my commandment she heard Jesus’ commandment to love one another.

She like many of those who are preparing the food back at St. John’s today for us always was there to love others.

Funeral Meals, fun dinners at the note lists but most importantly Penny was there most Thursdays for out meal with for the

community hungry and homeless.

Penny heard Jesus and listened and responded.

One of the other John passages that occured this year was of course the Good Shepherd passage

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they know me, and the result Jesus says I give them eternal life.”

There is no doubt that Penny heard Jesus and that Jesus knows Penny and that Penny will have eternal life.

To that we can all say Alleluia Thanks be to God.

Amen.