Infant Jesus Sisters Ireland

In the gospel of John, Jesus directs us to “abide in me, as I abide in you”. This book is an invitation to make the Word of God our home. It encourages us to turn over the words of scripture in our hearts as a plough turns over the soil to welcome the seed. Reflective questions and personal prayers aim to lead the reader into a deeper relationship with God. Being aware that drawing near the Word of God requires a special kind of presence, the author invites us to breathe in the Word, wait before the Word, walk through the pages of Scripture as a pilgrim and then abide in an intimate and transforming communion with God. Jeremiah, the great prophet of Israel, was torn between his devotion to God and his utter terror at proclaiming the difficult message that God’s people needed to hear. God’s Word had become Jeremiah’s nourishment, yet he wrestled with its challenges.

This book, appropriately entitled “Abide”, invites us to sit with the Word of God, so that it can begin to seep into us. It reminds us that receiving the Word is not just a matter of intellect but of presence, our lingering presence in God’s company and God’s desire to be present with and for us. John’s gospel invites us to make the Word of God our home – in this light Macrina begins by inviting us to reflect on two questions: What are you looking for? Where are you staying? Jn1:35-42. For the disciples, tagging along behind Jesus was not enough – some more commitment was needed. While curiosity is a good beginning, a choice needs to be made. It may have a rude awakening for the disciples to learn that Jesus’ true dwelling was not a physical place. We find the way on the way. She goes on to suggest that we take note of the particular ‘invitation’ we perceive in the scripture and “let the words paint icons in your mind”.