Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

Last year I was deeply affected by Rabbi Abraham Heschl’s The Prophets. The prophets courageously spoke in the name of God, naming the crimes that were all too common in Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. The poor were hungry and homeless, widows and orphans were neglected, the disabled were condemned to a life of beggary, children were taken for prostitutes and the sick were left to die. In fact they named the sins that are common to nearly every nation including – twenty-five centuries later -- the United States.

The prophets knew these sins are neither inevitable nor necessary. They are in effect inexcusable.

God not only sets the standards for his people, standards that are reasonable, human and attainable; he also lavishes the Holy Spirit upon us to help us attain these goals.

And yet we do not.

But God still speaks to us. First he forgives us. So long as we make no excuses for our failings and honestly acknowledge our sins the Lord washes us clean of all sin and renews our spirit to right living.

And God gives us reassuring words, as in today’s first reading. “If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.”

Recently I met in the hospital a young man who was caught in a terrible but all too familiar moral dilemma. He must make decisions about the life and death of his beloved uncle. Should the hospital continue to give life support in what seems to be a futile attempt to keep him alive? Or should they provide simple comfort care until he dies.

It was a decision he did not want to make and yet, as the Veteran lay unconscious, there was no one else to speak for him.

Recalling the assurances of our faith I said to his, “You love your uncle. Whatever you decide will be the right decision.”  

Jesus says repeatedly throughout the New Testament, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.” Yes, we are sinners. And yet we mean well; the Spirit moves within us; and we can rest assured that God is with us. All things will be well, all manner of things will be well.