Lisa
Lisa
Mersereau, CT
Mersereau, CT
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
In my work as a hospice chaplain, I’m continually amazed at how people remain in the Lord. There is such variety! As we know, how faith is expressed varies from person to person. The stories I hear about how a dying person has maintained a prayer life are as amazing as God is. Many reflect upon how God is with them and how they know God is with them in their final illness. There is an unwavering belief that there’s mutual love flowing between them and God. By Jesus saying, “Remain in me, as I remain in you,” we can interpret that as, “Know that love is present to you now and will be forever as I remain in you and you remain in me.”
This is one of the many things I have learned at the bedside of my patients.
John’s Gospel proposes an answer for us today for how to remain in Jesus.
Throughout the Gospel, a prominent theme is that belief in Jesus is the condition of salvation. The disciples with him perceive the special relationship between Jesus and God in this Gospel. Our Gospel passage today highlights that theme. There is necessity of remaining with Jesus, the vine, and the promise of mutual love. As such, remaining in Jesus is the basis for confidence in prayer and our own acknowledgement of the special relationship between Jesus and God.
In the Gospel today, Jesus uses the easy-to-understand image that he’s the vine and we are the branches. Surely, everyone knows that a branch cannot live separated from the vine. People in Jesus’ time who heard him say it, and people today, know its truth. When we know we cannot live separated from the fullness of God, when we know that we wish to remain connected to love, it is just one step to commit to what Jesus is asking of us: Remain in me.
Jesus did not say, “IF you remain in me, I will remain in you.” No, Jesus speaks of the mutual love always available to us and of God’s unending love. Remaining in Jesus DOES require effort from us, as any relationship requires. Do your best to remain in the Lord. Pray. Read the Bible. Establish a personal relationship with Jesus. Be kind. Show love. Bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, glorifying God and praising God’s Holy Name. Continue to grow in faith and remain on the vine.
Lisa Mersereau, CT
Lisa Mersereau, CT
Lisa Mersereau, CT is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL, with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree. Undergraduate theological studies were conducted at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. Lisa completed her undergraduate studies at DePaul University with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry and Theology. She attended the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL where she completed a Certificate of Studies in Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Lisa was certified as a Lay Ecclesial Minister for a parish within the Archdiocese of Chicago. Prior to moving to Southern California, Lisa worked for various parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago as either a Director of Religious Education or as a Pastoral Associate. She was active at the Archdiocesan level as a speaker and for various other projects or boards. She is a published author with Liturgy Training Publications for the Celebrating the Lectionary series.
After moving to the West Coast in 2019, Lisa took online classes during the pandemic to obtain a graduate-level Certificate in Instructional Design from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Recently, she became a Certified Thanatologist with the Association for Death Education and Counseling by being certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Lisa is employed at Uni Care Hospice in Escondido, CA as a Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator and is an active ministry volunteer at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala. She happily lives in the San Diego area.
The second of three volumes from the Catholic Women Preach project of FutureChurch offers homilies for each Sunday and holy days of the liturgical year by Catholic women from around the world. The first volume for Cycle A received awards for best book on Liturgy from both the Association of Catholic Publishers and the Catholic Media Association.
“Catholic Women Preach is one of the more inspiring collection of homilies available today. Based on the deep spirituality and insights of the various women authors, the homilies are solidly based on the scriptures and offer refreshing and engaging insights for homilists and listeners. The feminine perspective has long been absent in the preached word, and its inclusion in this work offers a long overdue and pastorally necessary resource for the liturgical life of the Church.” - Catholic Media Association
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