NOTES for Joh 15:9-11

In essence, two paths lie before us: to follow Christ by listening to His Word, or to turn away from Him. Jesus calls us, knocks at the doors of our hearts (see Rev 3:20), and asks: “Abide in My love” (John 15:9). He already loves us, regardless of who we are, how we behave, or whether what we do is bad or good. Nothing will separate us from His Love (see Rom 8:35-39). But even though Love is near, we can refuse to receive it. We can fail to see it or despise it and pay no attention to it. Yet it exists, and it is eternal. That is why the Lord calls us to abide in this love, so that He may bestow on us life, the strength to live, and finally eternity—Love itself. By entering into this Love, each of us not only responds to the Love of the One who created us, but also enters Eternity, cooperating in the work of our own salvation.