Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
A friend recently told me of a fellow employee who sought her out because they are both Catholic, and shared her anxiety about a diagnosis of cancer. The two women hardly knew each other in the large corporation but my friend's Catholicism is no secret. In times of crisis, we need each other.
In today's first reading, Saint John reminds his congregation of the original darkness of human society; it is a place where brothers slay brothers in jealousy, revenge, or fear. Because we have passed from that outer darkness through sacraments and sacrifice to an inner light we care for one another.
One of my favorite psalms is 119. It is a fulsome expression of gratitude for the way of life God has given us. Each of the 176 verses has a synonym for law. Way, command, precept, statute, word, and promise: to name a few. The midday prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours divvies it out one stanza at a time over the course of four weeks.
Like the Jewish psalmist, Catholics are grateful to God for giving us this religion and showing us the frightful sinfulness of the world around us. Like God, we despise abortion, adultery, violence, and warfare. We shudder at the cultivation of lies and deception. We delight in stories of our saints and martyrs; we treasure our devotions to the Blessed Sacrament, the Virgin Mother, our churches and shrines. We support the charities of our Church.
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our sisters and brothers in the faith. Certainly, we practice charity toward other people; we want to be inclusive. But we delight especially in sharing the Law with our companions on the journey. Our gratitude knows no bounds.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.