Word to the Wise
Monday, January 4, 2021 - Monday after Epiphany, or Jan. 7
[1 John 3:22-4:6 and Matt 4:12-17, 23-25]We receive from [God] whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he is them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit whom he gave us. [1 John]
JANUARY 4 ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON [U.S.A.]
[1 John 3:22 - 4:6 and Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25]
We receive from [God] whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he is them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit whom he gave us. [1 John]
The Gospel According to John and the Letters of John form a distinct tradition in the New Testament with its own approach and vocabulary. One of the words of that vocabulary that is important is the word "remain." [in Greek, "menein"] The English word, "to remain," has the connotation of "staying behind after, etc."} but in the Greek as used in Johannine literature it carries the meaning of "abiding" or "continual presence." We experience this in ordinary human relationships when we are "present" to one another even if we are not in the same location! My friends "remain" in me year round even if we are miles and miles apart geographically.
The First Letter of John, which provides our first scripture for today, tells us how God can be "present" to and in us. When we respond in faith to the revelation of God in Christ, we are given the Spirit of truth which continues to abide in us as long as we believe and express that belief in love of neighbor. Faith is the result of an encounter with God's love which is greater than any other love, When we love someone, we acknowledge their "presence" in our life and offer our own presence to them.
The season of Christmas/Epiphany offers us the opportunity to see God's love made manifest in the birth of Jesus, and to offer that love to others - a love that "remains" as long as we believe in it and act on it. AMEN
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