Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, have mercy. Cleanse me. Still my mind. Help me to listen as you speak.
Philip and Thomas have burning questions (John 14.5 and 8): where is Jesus headed? How can they know the way? What is God like? It is the questions, not the illusion of having the answers, that bring the disciples closer to Christ.
And it is the theme of closeness and intimacy to which Jesus keeps coming back: ‘I will take you to myself’ (verse 3); ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me’ (verse 10); ‘the Spirit of truth will be in you’ (verse 17). Jesus gives us the breathtaking invitation to enter the realm of the triune God and join the mystical union: ‘You will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you’ (verse 20).
Jesus’ language reminds me of the human experience of being fully immersed in something or someone – those precious moments when the boundaries between us and the other begin to blur, when our focus on the task we’re immersed in, or the person we love or admire, is so strong that it makes us forget about ourselves.
Unsurprisingly, Jesus links the mystical union with love: ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them’ (verse 23).
Lord, help me to love you, by desiring you and by doing your will.
This reflection was written by Michael Pfundner, Bible Society's Publishing Support Manager
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