All are welcome to join us for Service and Sunday School on Sunday, May 14 @ 10 am.

Rev. Marlene Notes:

“In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19

This passage continues Jesus’ farewell to his friends. He has just finished telling them that he is the way that leads to God and to Eternal Life. Jesus instructs the disciples that the keeping of the commandments is an expression of their love for him and that it embodies their ongoing relationship. The observance of Christ’s commandments is the real proof that God is alive in them. Love tells the true story.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Love is at the heart of every relationship, especially our relationship with God and with our neighbour. We share in the very life of God, when we share a life of love.

The major point here appears to be the coming of a second Advocate, or helper, with Jesus understood as the first. This Spirit-Advocate will be present in them in a mysterious and hidden way. The Advocate’s role will be to bring to life the “seeing” of the Lord’s presence; believers will then see what the world fails to see and they will recognize Christ’s ongoing presence through the work of the Spirit. This ongoing divine revelation is made known by keeping the commandments and by persevering in loving the Lord.

Remaining in the Lord illustrates the Christian life. Here, Jesus uses the image of a vine and branches to express the need to cling to God. For struggling Christians, clinging to God remains our only holy option. How might the world evolve if we all felt the presence, the comfort, and the guidance of the Advocate?