Reflection on Jn 14:20
“On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
We are in Christ, and He in us.
Jesus said: “On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (Jn 14:20)
I realize the truths:
1) Jesus is God, and He is in the Father
2) We are in Christ crucified
3) The risen Christ is in us
Ad 1) Realization: Jesus is God, and He is in His Father
5 minutes
By the spiritual sight I see high above myself the epicentre of light symbolizing the Triune God.
One of the members of the prayer community says: “You in the Father” (see also the second alternative).
All repeat 4 times: “Jehoshua”.
I say “Jehoshua” the first time and think in my mind: “God from God” (see The Creed).
I say “Jehoshua” the second time and think in my mind: “Light from Light.
I say “Jehoshua” the third time and think in my mind: “True God from true God”.
I say “Jehoshua” the fourth time and think in my mind: “Of one Being with the Father”.
The second alternative:
Before saying “Jehoshua” the first time one person says: “You in the Father – God from God.”
Before saying “Jehoshua” the second time one person says: “You in the Father – Light from Light.”
Before saying “Jehoshua” the third time one person says: “You in the Father – true God from true God.”
Before saying “Jehoshua” the fourth time one person says: “You in the Father – of one Being.”
The spirit of atheism and the spirit of heresy have always attacked the fundamental truth of the faith holding that God is the Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, and that the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, is true God, of one Being with the Father. Now before the whole universe I confess the truth from the Creed. I overcome unbelief in my heart and demons of unbelief and heresies in the air.
Ad 2) The cross and death in Christ – you in Me
I realize the truth “we in You” (or “I in You”). Jesus said: “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20)
If we are to live in true communion with God, we have to repent in earnest. Jesus washes the apostles’ feet: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.” (Jn 13:14-15)
It concerns repentance which consists in confessing to each other various forms of egoism. Example: I neglected to help my brother. I was indifferent. I was envious. I refused to accept my brother’s view in my thoughts or by my gesture. I was silent and reluctant to explain something which caused tension etc.
By the spiritual sight I see above myself the cross and Jesus crucified. I fix my eyes on the wounds in His hands, feet and heart.
One person says: “We in You.”
I divide the name Jehoshua into four syllables. Looking at the wound in His left hand, I utter two syllables: “Je” and “ho”. At the same time, I enter into this wound with my mind. Uttering the syllable “shu”, I perceive the movement of the light as well as of my mind towards the spiritual centre – the heart. Uttering the vowel “a”, I perceive my entering into Christ’s heart.
Then one person says again: “We in You.” And we all say aloud: “Je-ho-shu-a”. We enter into Christ’s heart through the wound in His other hand just like through the first wound.
Then one person says again: “We in You.” And we all say aloud the name “Je-ho-shu-a”. Uttering the syllable “Je” I perceive the wound in one foot, uttering the syllable “ho” I perceive the wound in the other foot, uttering the syllable “shu” I perceive the movement of my mind towards the heart. Uttering the vowel “a” I perceive my entering into Christ’s heart.
Then one person says again: “We in You.” And we all utter the holy name “Je-ho-shu-a”. Uttering the first and second syllables “Je” and “ho”, I realize that I am in the heart of Jesus in spirit. Uttering the syllable “shu”, I perceive the movement of the Spirit of Jesus and my spirit upward. Uttering the vowel “a”, I perceive that the Spirit of Jesus and my spirit enter into the arms of the Father – I experience spiritual unity with Christ’s death. This cycle repeats itself for about five minutes.
Ad 3) The risen Christ is in us
Humans, unlike animals, are spiritual. Unlike angels, they have a material body. So man is the intersection of matter and spirit. I perceive this reality by means of an image. I imagine a deep shaft into the depths of my being. This shaft has three horizontal turnings – it is a picture of a three-armed cross. The deepest sphere is our innermost self – eis ta idia (cf. Jn 19:27) – it is where the human spirit (pneuma) dwells which was created in the likeness of God. In the central sphere there is the soul (psyche). The sphere of the body (soma) is above the soul. The spiritual infection of original sin affects the soul and body by deceit and lusts. That’s why we need liberation and inner healing by Christ. The forces of darkness influence us too. Jesus said to Peter: “Launch out into the deep.” (Lk 5:4)
Spiritual view
The image of a shaft
One person says: “You in us”.
a) Uttering the syllables “Je” and “ho”, I perceive the risen Christ as the light. Uttering the syllable “shu”, I perceive the movement of the light deep down. Uttering the vowel “a”, I perceive that Christ has descended into my innermost self.
b) Uttering the syllables “Je” and “ho” for the second time, I realize that the risen Jesus is in me. Uttering the syllable “shu”, I perceive the movement of the light filling the shaft horizontally on both sides. Uttering the vowel “a”, I perceive that the light – Christ – has penetrated the whole sphere of my innermost being, i.e. the sphere of the spirit.
c) Uttering the syllables “Je-ho-shu-a” for the third time, I perceive in a similar manner that Christ penetrates the sphere of the soul (psyche).
d) Uttering the syllables “Je-ho-shu-a” for the fourth time, I perceive in the same way that Christ penetrates the body (soma).
Then one person says again: “You in us”. And the rhythm in which I realize this truth repeats itself.
Download: Reflection on Jn 14:20
