1 John 1:1-9 (NRSV)
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 21:19b-24 (NRSV)
Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me."
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
Blog Reflection
Today is the commemoration of St. John the Evangelist and Apostle. St. John is my name sake as an Oblate of St. Benedict.
I chose the name because of my love for the Gospel named after John, as well as the three letters attributed to John in the New Testament. The celebration of Christmas is just not complete for me without hearing the wonderful first chapter of John's Gospel about the Word becoming flesh, full of grace and truth. John dedicates a majority of his first letter to God's love and the love we should have for each other to show that we are in relationship to God. One of the most important parts of St. Benedict's Rule is to prefer nothing whatsoever to the love of Christ.
Lest we think that John is all mushy with love and sentiment, Jesus often nicknamed John and his brother James "Boanerges," which means, "sons of thunder" (See HWHM, page 140). John was among the most arrogant for seeking to be seated on one side of Jesus with his brother James on the left. It was John and his brother who had to be told that being a leader in God's reign was a matter of service to others.
Throughout John's Gospel, there is never a mention of John's name. Whenever a reference could be made to John in the Gospel it is often always said as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." There are many interpretations as to what that means.
One reference suggests that Jesus and John had a love affair. Why is that so horrible to think about? God's Son was a human being with the ability to be in love with someone. It is very possible that could be true. Could that be what John was talking about in his first letter used today? What John and the other apostles saw, touched and heard was nothing more than the very love of God through Jesus expressed in such an experience so awesome and beautiful, that they can only talk about it to people who just cannot believe it.
The other idea which has equal merit for being true is that "the disciple whom Jesus loved" means all of those who love and follow Jesus. Given John's other remarks about God's love in his first letter, I could believe that too.
Forward Day by Day's reflection for today says:
The apostle John wrote these words not long after the crucifixion. We can hear the note of panic, frustration, and disbelief in his letter. He was there, he saw it all unfold, the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of the world. How can anyone question? How can anyone doubt?
Yet, already in John’s time, the Gnostics were challenging the divinity of Christ, and other divisions and dissent threatened to dissolve the young church.
For many of us, this Tuesday is our first or second day back at work after Christmas. The commute, the keyboard, the tasks put aside before the holiday now look stale and burdensome. Perhaps for us, too, the sense of wonder we found in the Nativity is already starting to erode. But we can listen to John. He saw, he heard, he touched, he wrote. He wrote to bring joy to the hearts of his readers. May our joy, indeed, be complete. Christ is born. Alleluia!
It is easy to put the blame on Gnostics for challenging the divinity of Christ. Except that Christians do a really good job of challenging Christ's divinity through our refusal to love inclusively and with a sense of compassion towards those who are different than ourselves.
St. John challenges me to look at my own arrogance and need to learn to love others who don't quite match up to my standards. John may make my heart dance with his words and make me feel all warm inside, but if I am honest with myself, I am more challenged by his exhortation to love others to authenticate my wish to be a true disciple of Jesus.
The Church and society need to be infused with that love that heals broken relationships. The love that came down on Christmas through one so innocent and so in need of help; though Jesus was the Word through whom everything in the world that was made, was made. Jesus came to us as one who needed to be taught how to love in his own humanity; while being able to love unselfishly and completely in his divinity. So the Church by virtue of our relationship with the Divine God; needs to continue to learn through the humanity of God's perfect revelation to love and heal broken relationships.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) people come with a natural desire to love and be loved for who we are. Yet, because our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression challenge heterosexism; that idea that says that heterosexuals benefit at the expense of those who are not; we remain among the marginalized in the Church and society. Even in the Episcopal Church, there are still clergy, Bishops and lay people that still look at LGBT Bishops, Priests and Deacons with a skeptical mind along with those questions about why is the Church becoming inclusive to us.
Today's Gospel appears to give us a look at something that can be easily missed. John is reclining on Jesus. Cuddling with each other, is Jesus and John at the table where Jesus is about to confront his betrayer. Jesus tells Judas to do what he intends to do. In the midst of this loving moment there is romantic and life giving love that is so tender. At the same time the love that sacrifices even to one who is about to betray Jesus is visible and real.
The Church celebrates this feast of St. John as a reminder that the link between Christmas and the Cross is forever connected. God's love in Christ is tender, innocent and holy, because it also sacrifices and experiences the excruciating pain for all of the sins of humankind. God's love never withdraws itself, even in the face of injustice and prejudice. Even when betrayal and when life just does not make sense. In the love of Jesus our sins are forgiven. Our broken relationships can be healed through the Incarnate, Crucified and Risen Christ.
We are challenged by St. John to know that the Incarnate Word is about God's inclusive love. That includes you and me.
Prayers
Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light,
that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and
evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that
at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, Book of Common Prayer, 238).Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have
done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole
creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for
the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best
efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy
and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures
that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the
truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast
obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying,
through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life
again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and
make him known; and through him, at all times and in all
places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen. (A General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, page 836).
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