A Month at the Beach in Winter: Preparing: Part IV

No sooner had I written my posting about Evie and I turning our little "house", our camper/poustinia/desert place/hermitage, into a "home" then I rushed out the door to Church.

This was the Gospel today:

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: [ listing of their names follows.] (Mark 3:13-19)

In prayer before the Blessed Sacrament afterward, I opened the bible I carried in my purse. It was marked at John 14.

If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)

I saw the word "home!" Jesus will make his home with me if I love him and keep his commandments.

Then my eyes fell on John 15:1-4.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.

There it is, the word "home" again! Jesus asks me to make my home in him by listening to his words in Scripture and doing what he says. Then he continues:

As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away--he withers;

And then further down the page I saw:

It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.

And then in prayer I responded, but Jesus, I am a 53 year old woman, living almost 2000 years after that day when you called those twelve men to follow you. How do I know that you are calling me too and that I am not just somehow inserting myself into the picture?

I read on (John 15:10 and following):

If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love....You are my friends if you do what I command you....You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. What I command you is to love one another.

And then I closed my bible right then and there because the Lord had spoken.

Amen. Praise God!

Love, Ronda

Location:Apex, NC