98th Meditation on God the Father
“Abide in me and I in you” (inner word).
To abide means to stop and not to continue immediately to a next activity. We could also say “enjoy”. We should not pause and become stuck on earthly things. If we did, we would give them an importance that does not correspond to them and we ourselves would not obtain any real benefit, for our soul would not be filled with what it deeply longs for.
With God it is different… In Him our soul is at home and does not really want to be anywhere else. It was created to remain in God, from whom everything comes. Where else would it go?
“What about you, do you want to go away too?” -Jesus asked the Twelve after many of His other disciples had turned away from Him (Jn 6:66-67). Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we have come to know that you are the Holy One of God” (v. 68-69).
The twelve then remained with Him…
What about our Father? He wants to abide with us. He does not leave once He has found a soul in which to dwell, but remains in it. His search has been satisfied and, once He has found this soul, He will go with it to look for others, so that He may abide in them and they in Him.
Jesus also remains with his disciples: “And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt 28:20b). He sends us His Spirit, He abides with us in His word, He gives Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist and in His Church…