Grace and Truth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the events of our lives in which we experienced grace and truth.

Grace and Truth

 

The reading from the First Letter of John is a warning against Antichrists.

* [2:20] The anointing that comes from the holy one: this anointing is in the Old Testament sense of receiving the Spirit of God. The holy one probably refers to Christ. True knowledge is the gift of the Spirit (cf. Is 11:2), and the function of the Spirit is to lead Christians to the truth (Jn 14:17, 26; 16:13).1

 

Psalm 96 praises God Who comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.2

 

The Prologue to the Gospel of John declares the Word Became Flesh.

* [1:14] Flesh: the whole person, used probably against docetic tendencies (cf. 1 Jn 4:2; 2 Jn 7). Made his dwelling: literally, “pitched his tent/tabernacle.” Cf. the tabernacle or tent of meeting that was the place of God’s presence among his people (Ex 25:8–9). The incarnate Word is the new mode of God’s presence among his people. The Greek verb has the same consonants as the Aramaic word for God’s presence (Shekinah). Glory: God’s visible manifestation of majesty in power, which once filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34) and the temple (1 Kgs 8:10–11, 27), is now centered in Jesus. Only Son: Greek, monogenēs, but see note on Jn 1:18. Grace and truth: these words may represent two Old Testament terms describing Yahweh in covenant relationship with Israel (cf. Ex 34:6), thus God’s “love” and “fidelity.” The Word shares Yahweh’s covenant qualities.3 

Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that God’s creation of each of us has been and still is assisted by persons who have let us know who we really are. We probably have had persons who also deformed or damaged our images of our real selves. Jesus as Light, came to dwell among us and in doing so, in John’s Gospel as well as in our lives, has stayed to gently, but insistently reveal who each of us is and who we all are together. He came as Light to, both shine through creation and radiate His Light through us.

Reflecting then on this past year, what have we seen, what has been seen through us? There has been darkness and perhaps the darkness has increased through our own participation in the virus of self-negativity and subsequently, the contagion of criticism. We can consider how the Light has overcome that dark-spirited way of not-seeing. The “grace-upon-grace” in our lives offers us to others and to life’s situations as real blessings, imagine that! No! not for imagining, but end-of-the year and beginning-of-the-year reflection and acceptance. Perhaps we can set aside the umbrella of disappointment and gloom which may have darkened our being in His Light and being His Light. As G. M. Hopkins writes, “Keeps grace that keeps all his goings graces.” We, as with John, are not the Light, but we testify to the Light by which we know and accept who He created us to be, “Children of God, Imagine that! No! Pray with and enjoy who His Light has created us to be and see! Have a Light-full New Year!  4 

Don Schwager quotes “The first-fruits of the Gospels,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"I think that John's Gospel, which you have enjoined us to examine to the best of our ability, is the first-fruits of the Gospels. It speaks of him whose descent is traced and begins from him who is without a genealogy... The greater and more perfect expressions concerning Jesus are reserved for the one who leaned on Jesus' breast. For none of the other Gospels manifested his divinity as fully as John when he presented him saying, 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:42), 'I am the way and the truth and the life' (John 14:6), 'I am the resurrection' (John 11:25), 'I am the door' (John 10:9), 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:11)... We might dare say then that the Gospels are the first-fruits of all Scripture but that the first-fruits of the Gospels is that according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus' breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.21-23)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 1:1-18 comments that today’s Gospel reading gives us a different perspective as we reflect on the past year. John’s hope-filled statement that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). John insists that even in our darkest times, God will continue to shine his light and his goodness on us. He is the one constant we can always rely on in all the ups and downs of life.

This upcoming year will surely have its share of joys and trials. None of us can tell what’s waiting for us. But if you go into the year with trust in God’s constancy, you’ll be a lot more confident that your heavenly Father will carry you as often as you need him to. Whether you face the worst of times, the best of times, or a combination of both, know that you will never have to face it alone. Jesus, the light of the world, will be with you. “Thank you, Lord, that your light continues to shine. Jesus, deepen my trust in you in the coming year.”6 

Friar Jude Winkler teaches that the AntiChrist in the Letter of John was Gnostic docetism that denied Jesus humanity because of a belief in the evil of the material world. John’s Prologue connects Christ to Wisdom (Sophia) personified and to the Logos in the work of Philo. Friar Jude reminds us of the grace and truth of God expressed in Yahweh as hesed and emet.

 

Brian McLaren illustrates how one of the Bible’s most challenging books—Revelation—can be a source of wisdom and hope for us today. Rather than giving its original readers and hearers a coded blueprint of the future, Revelation gave them visionary insight into their present situation. It told them that the story of God’s work in history has never been about escaping Earth and going up to heaven. It has always been about God descending to dwell among us. . . . God wasn’t a distant, terrifying monster waiting for vengeance at the end of the universe. God was descending among us here and now, making the tree of true aliveness available for all. [1]

What was true for Revelation’s original audience is true for us today. Whatever madman is in power, whatever chaos is breaking out, whatever danger threatens, the river of life is flowing now. The Tree of Life is bearing fruit now. True aliveness is available now. That’s why Revelation ends with the sound of a single word echoing through the universe. That word is not Wait! Nor is it Not Yet! or Someday! It is a word of invitation, welcome, reception, hospitality, and possibility. It is a word not of ending, but of new beginning. That one word is Come! The Spirit says it to us. We echo it back. Together with the Spirit, we say it to everyone who is willing. Come! [3]7 

The journey to fullness of life is marked by experiences of grace and truth revealed by the Spirit.

 

References

1	(n.d.). 1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96
3	(n.d.). John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB - United States Conference of Catholic .... Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/123121.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=dec31
6	(n.d.). Meditation: John 1:1-18 - The Word Among Us. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: 2021 - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://cac.org/a-revelation-of-heaven-on-earth-2021-12-31/

Living Beyond Christmas

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the transition we are being called to accept in our lives as we prepare to return to Nazareth after the Christmas season.

Prepare for After Christmas

The reading from the First Letter of John alerts members of the Community to the dangers of the World and Desire.

* [2:16] Sensual lust: literally, “the lust of the flesh,” inordinate desire for physical gratification. Enticement for the eyes: literally, “the lust of the eyes,” avarice or covetousness; the eyes are regarded as the windows of the soul. Pretentious life: literally, “pride of life,” arrogance or ostentation in one’s earthly style of life that reflects a willful independence from God and others.1

 

Psalm 96 praises God Who comes in Judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.2

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Anna encounters Jesus before His return to Nazareth.

* [2:22–40] The presentation of Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful observers of the law of the Lord (Lk 2:23–24, 39), i.e., the law of Moses. In this respect, they are described in a fashion similar to the parents of John (Lk 1:6) and Simeon (Lk 2:25) and Anna (Lk 2:36–37).3 

Tamora Whitney comments we have just come from Christmas, where the focus should be on the birth of Jesus, but the focus more and more seems to be on the worldly aspects of gifts.

Our Christmas focus should be on the birth of Jesus. We should be like those in First John, focused on Jesus from the beginning, following him from the start, and more focused on eternity. We should be more focused on what’s in the manger than on what’s under the tree. We should be like Anna with our whole focus on Jesus, the baby born last week, and the one who will redeem us. Our greatest Christmas gift is the gift of God. Our greatest hope for the new year is redemption.4

 

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus, though rich, became poor for us,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"Anna, who, by reason of her years of widowhood and her virtues, is set before us as wholly worthy of belief, announces that the Redeemer of all people has come... Not without purpose, however, does he make mention of the eighty-four years of her widowhood, because both the seven twelves and the two forties seemed to imply a number that is sacred."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.62)5

 

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 2:12-17 comments that this letter is a sort of sermon to the earliest Christians about what life “after Christ” should look like.

John reminds us that if we want to love the world less and love God more each day, our hearts need to change. It can be hard to let go of selfish ways of thinking and acting. It can be hard to change behaviors that reflect the values of the world. But God always gives us the grace to step into his light. He always gives us the grace to begin to make small but concrete acts of love for him and his people.6

 

Friar Jude Winkler notes that age in the passage from 1 John may be a measure of experience in the faith. The world is that experience we have of concupiscence as understood by Augustine. Friar Jude notes that Luke’s emphasis on Jerusalem may explain his difference from Matthew in the story of the Holy Family.

 

Brian McLaren is convinced that something beautiful lies “unveiled” on the other side of complexity and perplexity. He writes about the harmony that arises after struggling with and accepting doubt as a part of our faith journey. The good news is that this spirituality is available to everyone, like wind, rain, and sun, because it is the presence of grace and the creative current of the Holy Spirit that flows like a song through all of creation. It is here. Available. At hand. Within reach. Right now. If those of us who have found this treasure in our religious traditions can begin to sing it, speak it, pray it, celebrate it, and live it out loud, perhaps together we can lean into Harmony as a civilization. Perhaps we can sing the song of Harmony in genuine harmony as a multi-faith visionary choir.

Right now, much work waits to be done. In politics, we’ve been studying war for centuries. We must now study how to create the conditions for deep and lasting peace. In many sectors of religion, we’ve been obsessed for centuries with escaping this day-to-day life on earth for an afterlife in heaven (or an experience of personal bliss). We must now cherish life on earth and engage with it by focusing our best energies on learning to love neighbor, self, earth, and God, who is Love. In education, for centuries we’ve been focused on basic morality, technology, and critical thinking. Now we must learn how to teach our children not just to know right from wrong, and not just to be able to make a living, and not just to be able to think critically, but also to live well with ourselves, one another, and the earth, discovering and cherishing the “sound of the genuine” in all things.7 

We seek the Holy Spirit to maintain our sharing of the Peace of Christmas with the people we encounter as we prepare to begin a New Year.

 

References

 

1	(n.d.). 1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/123021.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=dec30
6	(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/12/30/278862/
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: 2021 - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 30, 2021, from https://cac.org/leaning-into-harmony-2021-12-30/

Falling and Rising

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how meditation on the ebb and flow of our lives reveals the work of the Spirit in prompting us to live more closely in relationship with Jesus.

 

Review our journey 

The reading from the First Letter of John exhorts us to observe a New Commandment.

* [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

 

Psalm 96 praises God Who comes in judgement.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33.2

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is presented in the Temple.

* [2:25] Awaiting the consolation of Israel: Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.3

 

Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments that John has all sorts of polarities here – new commandment and old, darkness as opposed to true light, etc. – and from that we might think that the world is actually black and white and that the morally and spiritually “correct” choice will always be evident. That would make our decisions clear and the choices easy for someone dedicated to finding God and serving him. Reality, however, has endless shades of grey, as any mature mind must recognize.

Our lives are not a matter of one single decision and choice but a matter of our values and goals, of all the little directions and activities we choose for ourselves. How do we cope?  As best we can.  We are not supposed to achieve perfection in this world, but as God’s little children we must be eager to do our best, to learn from our mistakes and grow, to be unfailingly generous with ourselves and our gifts. The Father loves in a special way those who try to follow his Son home to him by imitating him.4 

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)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 2:22-35 comments that Simeon “came in the Spirit into the temple” (Luke 2:27). Simeon didn’t only listen to the Spirit in prayer; he was already attuned to his promptings before he even entered the Temple! He had learned to stay close to the Spirit in the ordinary events of the day. As a result, he was in the right place, at the right time, with an open heart and ready to see and testify to the work of God.

Simeon teaches us to follow the Spirit. We received the Spirit in Baptism; he already lives within us. We need only practice the discernment, faith, and obedience that Simeon showed. As we do, the Spirit will help us take up our role in God’s story. He can help us hear the voice of Jesus in our prayer and daily tasks. He can give us faith to wait in hope for the answer to our prayers. And he can help us follow Jesus in obedience. It’s a process, but it begins as we ask the Spirit to open our eyes and our ears. He will do the rest. “Holy Spirit, help me to follow you today.”6 

Friar Jude Winkler contrasts the need for commandments in the letter of John with the “one commandment” in John’s Gospel to “Love God and do what you will” (Augustine’s Love Sermon) Luke does not get it 100% correct when he writes of Jewish customs. Friar Jude reminds us of the difficulty in the mind of Mary, who prayed the Shema, to deal with the “Son of God” as revealed to her.

 

Franciscan Media relates Saint Thomas Becket’s story as a strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil, and so became a strong churchman, a martyr, and a saint.

No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of popularity, convenience, promotion, and even greater goods.7 

Barbara Holmes writes about how it is in times of literal or figurative darkness that new possibilities are unveiled. An eclipse occurs when one object gets in between us and another object and blocks our view.  We are not permanently blocked from the light. Also, we are not able to rely upon our sight to overcome the obstruction. Finally, during an eclipse, we have a dimming of the familiar and a loss of taken-for-granted clues that we rely upon every day to remind us of who we are and why we are here. Yet, although we are not always comfortable in darkness, the invitation to come away from life in the spotlight is intriguing. Could there be a blessing in the shadows?

The eclipse reminds us to linger in the darkness, to savor the silence, to embrace the shadow—for the light is coming, the resurrection is afoot, transformation is unfolding, for God is working in secret and in silence to create us anew. [1]8

 

The dualism of the Letter of John, opposing Gnosticism, may not be an appropriate position for our openness to the Spirit to prompt our smaller steps in transition to the Light.

 

References

1	(n.d.). 1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96
3	(n.d.). Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online Ministries. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122921.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=dec29
6	(n.d.). Meditation: Luke 2:22-35 - The Word Among Us. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/
7	(n.d.). Saint Thomas Becket | Franciscan Media. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-thomas-becket
8	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: 2021 - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 29, 2021, from https://cac.org/the-wisdom-of-darkness-2021-12-29/