Word to the Wise
Friday, November 12, 2010 - St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr
[2 John 4-9 and Luke 17:26-37]For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.....Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. [2 John]
"Walking" and "remaining" are two important words in the "Johannine" literature! How does one do both at the same time? The challenge is really to keep "on message" while making our way through the various ups and downs of human living! The "way" is the message of love that Jesus taught from the beginning. He is love and if we "remain" in that teaching, we are already experiencing eternal life! In short, "remaining" means staying on the path. "Walking" means moving forward with the message. The early Christian community experienced a considerable variety of interpretations of Jesus' teaching. The temptation to some was to develop their own version of the teaching that suited their own needs or prior beliefs. The reason we have the "books" that we do have in the bible is because the church decided that these books represented best what Jesus meant and were the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we can rely on them as giving us the way in which we should walk and remain. Ultimately that is the way of love of God and neighbor! AMEN