(Optional Memorial of Saint Sylvester I, Pope)
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| “Nativity” by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini, 1488-94 |
Reading 1: 1
John 2:18-21
Children, it is the last
hour;
and just as you heard that
the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have
appeared.
Thus we know this is the last
hour.
They went out from us, but
they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would
have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that
none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing
that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because
you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to
the truth.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-21
After telling his community that
they were armed against evil by their knowledge of Christ, the Apostle now
tells them that the hour is near. Christ has died and is risen, and the second
coming must be approaching. He warns them to be alert and watch out for the
antichrist. (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John. In
Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the same
person(s) is designated “lawless one.”) This group of “antichrists” mentioned
by the biblical authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching
falsely about Jesus.
St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically
leave the faith community, holding false premises. He then tells those who are
faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth.
CCC: 1 Jn 2:18 670,
672, 675; 1 Jn 2:20 91, 695
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
96:1-2, 11-12, 13
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth
rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you
lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his
name;
announce his salvation, day
after day.
R. Let the heavens be glad
and the earth rejoice!
Let the heavens be glad and
the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it
resound;
let the plains be joyful and
all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of
the forest exult before the LORD.
R. Let the heavens be glad
and the earth rejoice!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with
justice
and the peoples with his
constancy.
R. Let the heavens be glad
and the earth rejoice!
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Commentary on Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13
This song of praise exhorts the
people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation. The reason for
this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice. In
this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem –
the Heavenly Kingdom.
CCC: Ps 96:2 2143
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Gospel: John
1:1-18
In the beginning was the
Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with
God.
All things came to be through
him,
and without him nothing came
to be.
What came to be through him
was life,
and this life was the light
of the human race;
the light shines in the
darkness,
and the darkness has not
overcome it.
A man named John was sent
from God.
He came for testimony, to
testify to the light,
so that all might believe
through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the
light.
The true light, which
enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be
through him,
but the world did not know
him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not
accept him.
But to those who did accept
him
he gave power to become
children of God,
to those who believe in his
name,
who were born not by natural
generation
nor by human choice nor by a
man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among
us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s
only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and
cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after
me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before
me.’”
From his fullness we have all
received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was
given through Moses,
grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God,
who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
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Commentary on Jn 1:1-18
The introduction of St. John’s
Gospel first provides the description of the relationship of God and Jesus who
is the Logos – or word of God. The Word is light to the world and all things
are subordinate to the Word because they were created by and through the Word.
St. John then introduces John the Baptist as one who came to
testify to the light (now homologous above with the Word). His message, like
that of Jesus was not accepted by the very people created by the Lord. He goes
on to say that those who accept Christ are adopted by God.
Concluding this selection, the Evangelist makes his own profession
as he speaks of the incarnation of the eternal as “the word became flesh and
made his dwelling among us.” His divinity is once more established as he says
“…we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son.” This was the
message St. John tells us he was sent to bring. He then reestablishes himself
as messenger and servant of the one who sent him, Jesus. He says that while
Moses brought the Law, Christ came and revealed God himself.
CCC: Jn 1:1-3 291;
Jn 1:1 241,
454, 2780; Jn 1:3 268;
Jn 1:4 612;
Jn 1:6 717;
Jn 1:7 719;
Jn 1:9 1216;
Jn 1:11 530;
Jn 1:12-18 1996;
Jn 1:12-13 706;
Jn 1:12 526,
1692; Jn 1:13 496,
505, 526; Jn 1:14 423,
445, 454, 461, 594, 705, 2466; Jn 1:16 423,
504; Jn 1:17 2787;
Jn 1:18 151,
454, 473
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Reflection:
We are once more awed by the
opening phrases of St. John’s Gospel as he tells us: “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Even as we
reflect on the profound implications of these words we are struck by the
contrast in tone of the Evangelist’s First Letter that was our first reading.
There is something important
in that first reading, something that is central to our belief in the
Word. If we truly believe in the truth,
that “In the Beginning” (before time,
before creation) Christ existed in the Father and with the Father, “…the Word was with God, and the Word was
God,” if we believe this there is a transformation within us. That transformation is accomplished in us by
God at our Baptism and sealed in us at our Confirmation. If some later event occurs that drives us
away from God, if some antichrist or false teacher places a wedge between us
and God, that change of character is still there.
In the Detroit, Michigan area
a few years ago a 15 year old boy was in jail for shooting and killing a police
officer. They treated him as an
adult. As the image of this young man
was shown on the TV screen sitting in the court room, we could not help but
wonder where had he been twisted? At
what point had those entrusted with the light of faith failed to protect him
from those who had taught him to disrespect civil authority, that violence was
an acceptable path?
St. John is speaking to his
congregation about a different sort of situation. He speaks of those converted
but not baptized, who were, in a sense, shopping for something to believe in. When they fall away from the Christian
Community and began persecuting the Christians, some of the faithful wondered
if God’s saving hand had left them.
In our day and age we see the
same kind of thing from time to time as aspirants, desperate to find something
to believe in, “explore” the faith. We
know that those that leave, who reject the faith, often find it too
difficult. It requires them to change
their lifestyles, attitudes, or secular views more than they are willing or
able to do. In the analogy of the light of faith, they blaze instantly, like
flash powder, but then go completely dark – essentially burning out.
Belief in the Logos, the Word
made flesh and all that is implied by that belief, is hard. Belief, true belief, requires us to act in
certain ways, and often respond with counterintuitive actions, not in our best
interests but out of love. In this
upcoming year, let us pledge to become more in tune with the Word, who was and
is. Let us work diligently to help the
world become a better place where young people (and old) will not be left to
the false teachers and antichrists of our day.
Pax
[2]
The picture used today is “Nativity” by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini, 1488-94
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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