Our connection to Christ brings life
Jesus abandons his dwelling place in heaven to take residence with us
May 13, 2007 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter
By Fr. Michael Stubbs
Every once in a while, an adult son or daughter will move back home with his or her parents, usually for financial reasons. They usually do not view it as the best situation, but as a stop-gap, temporary measure. Similarly, after hurricane Katrina, some generous families took in people who had lost their housing. But ordinarily, the host family would invite their guests into their home. How would you react, if someone announced to you that they planned to move in with you?
But that is exactly what is going on in Sunday's gospel reading, John 14:23-29. Jesus tells the disciples, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."
This announcement is striking, in view of the other-worldly character of Jesus in John's gospel. After all, it is in John's gospel that Jesus tells Pilate, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." (18:36) It is in John's gospel that Jesus proclaims that he has come down from heaven. (6:38) It is in John's gospel that the force of Jesus' divine word is so strong that it physically throws to the ground those who hear it. (18:6)
John's gospel emphasizes Jesus' other-worldly nature. So when Jesus abandons his dwelling place in heaven, in order to take up residence with us, the contrast appears even greater. It is the difference between heaven and earth.
That is what the Incarnation means, according to John's gospel. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (1:14)
In John's scheme of things, God's indwelling in the heart of the believer extends that Incarnation even farther. In other words, the Incarnation is not limited to the span of Jesus' human life, but continues on in us who believe. That is why the gospel says, "We will come to him and make our dwelling with him."
In this respect, John's gospel goes beyond all the other gospels. For example, Matthew's gospel also has Jesus promising to remain with his disciples. "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) In this way, Matthew's gospel concludes by fulfilling the hopes inspired by Jesus' nickname, "Emmanuel," which means, God is with us.
On the other hand, in John's gospel, Jesus assures the disciples of a much closer, more personal, more intimate presence with them. "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you." (John 14:20) John's gospel holds out the promise of a union with God, comparable to the union between Jesus and the Father. The synoptic gospels focus upon us entering the kingdom of heaven. In contrast, John's gospel focuses upon God entering us.
Elsewhere, John's gospel represents this union with God and with Jesus Christ by the image of the grapevine. Jesus tells the disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5) Our connection to Christ brings us life. It brings us into an organic relationship with God, which can grow and develop. But it is not merely a convenient living arrangement. It is the key to fullness of life.
(Fr. Stubbs, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, has a master's degree in theology from Harvard.)
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