Daily Retreat 01/09/09
2009 Jan 9 Fri: Christmas Weekday
1 Jn 5: 5-13/ Ps 147: 12-13. 14-15. 19-20/ Lk 5: 12-16
From today’s readings: “ God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.... Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion.... It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with Him....”
Eternal life and love
As St. John begins to bring this letter of love to a close (and as we likewise approach the formal close of the Christmas liturgical season), he states his purpose in writing:
“I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the Name of the Son of God!”
What does it mean to you to have eternal life? Mostly, we only think of that concept in terms of heavenly bliss, but St. John suggests that this is not just something promised for the future (“God WILL give us eternal life...”) but something that has already been presented (“God GAVE us eternal life...”).
To be sure, this eternal life is not yet possessed in its fulness by those of us still running the course of our earthly life. But in spite of the differences, John's insight is that there is a profound continuity between life now in Christ and life in Heaven with Christ, for "whoever possesses the Son has life...."
1 Jn 5: 5-13/ Ps 147: 12-13. 14-15. 19-20/ Lk 5: 12-16
From today’s readings: “ God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.... Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion.... It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with Him....”
Eternal life and love
As St. John begins to bring this letter of love to a close (and as we likewise approach the formal close of the Christmas liturgical season), he states his purpose in writing:
“I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the Name of the Son of God!”
What does it mean to you to have eternal life? Mostly, we only think of that concept in terms of heavenly bliss, but St. John suggests that this is not just something promised for the future (“God WILL give us eternal life...”) but something that has already been presented (“God GAVE us eternal life...”).
To be sure, this eternal life is not yet possessed in its fulness by those of us still running the course of our earthly life. But in spite of the differences, John's insight is that there is a profound continuity between life now in Christ and life in Heaven with Christ, for "whoever possesses the Son has life...."
posted by FrPitstick | 1/06/2009
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