[Jesus] said,] “as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

- John 15:9-17 (NRSV)

These words form part of Jesus ’ farewell discourse to his disciples are playing of part of Christ’s teaching, during this Easter season, which Jesus told us to remember.

The Greek word meno that is rendered “abide” in this Bible reading, is one that does not translate easily into an English word. Alternatives include “remain”, “dwell” or “endure”. Thus, a stability of presence and of being is contained within meno.

Jesus’ words cited above come directly after he speaks of himself as the vine, God the Father as the vine grower, and us as the branches that are called to bear fruit (John 15:1-8). In the context of this image, meno has the implication of remaining in Christ as a branch remains in the vine – such that the same nutrients flow through the branch as they do through the vine. If we abide in Christ in this way, the fruit we bear in loving others will be a product of Christ’s love flowing through us and nourishing us.

I find meno to be a call just to be – just to sit – in Christ’s love. It is a comforting call to be refreshed and renewed.

To those who are followers of the Orthodox Christian faith and who therefore celebrated Easter this past weekend, we say, “Happy Easter!”. We also wish “Eid Mubarak!” to members of our community who are Muslim and observing Ramadan at present, and who will celebrate Eid al Fitr on Wednesday 12 May.

REVD CLAUDIA COUSTAS

CHAPLAIN