The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with love of our neighbour as witness to our experience of Christ.
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| Looking at the Light in all |
The First Letter of John declares love of our brothers and sisters as the evidence of our living in the light.
* [2:7–11] The author expresses the continuity and freshness of mutual charity in Christian experience. Through Christ the commandment of love has become the light defeating the darkness of evil in a new age. All hatred as darkness is incompatible with the light and Christian life. Note also the characteristic Johannine polemic in which a positive assertion is emphasized by the negative statement of its opposite.1
In the Gospel from Luke, the Jewish Ritual of redemption of the first son is a occasion for Simeon to praise God and offer Mary insight into the challenges that will come to her through the life of Jesus.
* [2:35] (And you yourself a sword will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus (Lk 2:34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” (Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21).2
Scott McClure comments that today's readings speak of word and song. In the First Reading, we hear, "But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him" (1 JN 2:5). In Psalm 96 we hear, "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord; bless his name." Our very faith tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In our faith, the Word comes first and we are urged to sing!
We are urged to put this Word to song with our lives as the melody. God calls each of us to respond uniquely to his invitation to love. Each day presents us the chance to take the Word we have been given and put it to song. Each of the saints wrote their own melody with their lives, each faithful to the same Word; the same lyric. In this Christmas season, let us each be inspired to find the tune the best brings out God's love in us for one another.3
Don Schwager quotes “Simeon and Anna represent both sexes awaiting their Redeemer,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"Simeon and Anna, a man and a woman of advanced age, greeted the Lord with the devoted services of their professions of faith. As they saw him, he was small in body, but they understood him to be great in his divinity. Figuratively speaking, this denotes the synagogue, the Jewish people, who, wearied by the long awaiting of his incarnation, were ready with both their arms (their pious actions) and their voices (their unfeigned faith) to exalt and magnify him as soon as he came. They were ready to acclaim him and say, 'Direct me in your truth and teach me, for you are my saving God, and for you I have waited all the day' (Psalm 25:5). What needs to be mentioned, too, is that deservedly both sexes hurried to meet him, offering congratulations, since he appeared as the Redeemer of both." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.18) 4
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 2:3-11 proclaims that because Jesus became one of us, we now know what love looks like in real-life situations.
On every page of the Gospels, he has shown us that love is about making concrete decisions to put other people’s interests before our own. He showed this by dining with people no one else wanted to associate with (Luke 19:1-10). Or feeding people who were hungry (John 6:1-15). Or asking someone suffering in silence to articulate what he needs (Luke 18:35-43). Or forgiving someone who has sinned grievously (John 8:1-11).
If this list makes it sound as if Jesus has set the bar too high for you, don’t worry. Jesus knows your strengths and weaknesses, and he is ready to help you. You don’t have to figure out how to love on your own. Jesus’ own love, his creativity, and his compassion can become your love, creativity, and compassion. Slowly. Gradually. Over time and through trial and error.5
Friar Jude Winkler explores the change in the theology from the Gospel of John to the First Letter of John. The vertical and horizontal dimension of our faith are required for us to be full. Simeon's Nunc Dimittis, (Luke 2:29-32) precedes the prophecy to Mary of tension and difficult times in her witness to Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, finds a contemplative practice helpful to connect with the loving Source within ourselves and then expand that awareness to others.
Take some time to rest in God’s presence. Allow God’s loving, compassionate gaze to soften your heart. Notice any sensations in your body, if you feel tension or resistance, warmth or release. Send loving attention to each of those places. If you feel pain or sorrow, know that God is intimately present with suffering. You are not broken or damaged. As James Finley often says, “You are not what has happened to you. Only Love has the final word in who you are.”
Draw upon this Love in yourself. Be filled to overflowing with Love. Gradually turn your gaze outward, picturing people you know and strangers you’ve never met, faces around the world. Imagine Love gazing back at you from their eyes. Return their gazes with Love. God—who is Love—is with and in each of you6.
Meeting the challenge of loving our brothers and sisters may be helped by contemplation of Jesus example, Mary’s struggle and our meditation that opens our eyes to the God-given light in the other.
References
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(n.d.). 1 John, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 29, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1john/2
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(n.d.). Luke, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 29, 2018, from http://usccb.org/bible/luke/2
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(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved December 29, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
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(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 29, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
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(n.d.). 5th Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord - Mass Readings .... Retrieved December 29, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
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(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 29, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/
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