Remain In My Love

When Jesus said, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you,” he was teaching us an essential truth about the nature of love: it cannot be contained. When we are loved, we in turn extend that love to others—period. Believing that God—and by extension, Jesus—and by extension, we ourselves—have a limited amount of love to give is a falsity. That is one reason Jesus said, “Remain in my love.” As long as we do so, we have access to an unlimited source of love that heals, unites, and leads to peace. This is the secret of people who seemingly have an endless capacity to accept others as they are and perform good works.

I also believe Jesus said “Remain in my love” because he knew that what love draws forth from us might feel too daunting, and thus we might be tempted to turn away. The heart that is inclined to volunteer at a soup kitchen, advocate for the rights of immigrants, or go on a mission trip is often stymied by a mind that generates self-doubt, fear of change, and judgment. By remaining in Christ’s love, we bypass the overcautious mind and remain centered in the generous heart.   

Jesus told us that it is by keeping his commandments that we remain in his love. Again, he reinforces the generative nature of love: when we love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves, we remain in Christ’s love. It’s like an infinity circle or a water wheel that gives and receives and gives and receives, generating an inexhaustible source of energy—which might be termed joy—in the process. All we have to do is stay engaged and not remove ourselves from the cycle.

Here is the sign of people who know they are chosen by God to be holy and beloved: They help others understand that they are chosen too and invite them into the ever-widening circle of God’s love in a universe so vast that the circle can never be contained.