Word to the Wise
Saturday, January 2, 2016 - Jan. 2
[1 John 2:22-28 and John 1:19-28,]If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. [1 John]
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016 STS. BASIL AND GREGORY
[1 John 2:22-28 and John 1:19-28]
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. [1 John]
The "letters" of John are grouped with the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation for study purposes and are called "the Johannine literature." The approach is very different from the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and the epistles of St. Paul and other epistles. The best way to understand the letters is to read the Gospel of John first and then the letters. The themes and vocabulary will make more sense. Today's first scripture is taken from one of the letters of John and provides us with an example of what I mean.
The Prologue of the Gospel of John, which I have reflected upon a couple of times already in this season (Christmas Day and December 31) uses the word "beginning" in a very important sense. It does not mean the first in a series, but more the sense of Genesis. Thus, "beginning" in the letter is an echo of the Prologue. There is no beginning for God, only for humans. Eternal life then is understood not in a clock sense but a relationship that lasts forever. Jesus says that those who believe in him HAVE eternal life. This is what the important word, REMAIN, means. Remaining in Christ means to believe that he is the one whom God has sent. The "anointing" in today's passage refers to the Spirit which was sent to sustain us.
Perhaps this seems a bit much after all the celebration, with Epiphany still ahead of us and the Magi on the horizon, but the baby in the manger is no ordinary baby. From the "beginning" he has invited humankind to eternal life if only we remain in him. AMEN