Reflection on Today's Readings, Friday after Epiphany of the Lord, January 7th, 2022
Texts: 1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147: 12- 15.19-20; Luke 5:12-1 6
Yesterday we were told about our victory over the world. It is said, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith." This same theme is continued in today's first reading: "Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" This means it is the faith in Jesus Christ that guarantee us victory over the world. He says, "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16: 33).
St. John, in the reading, tells us the victory we have over the world in Jesus Christ. The victory we have in Jesus Christ is eternal life. The baptism and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit bear testimony to the truth that we have eternal life in Him, Jesus Christ. He submitted to baptism for our sake to give eternal life. He submitted to death for our sake to give eternal life. The Holy Spirit always assures us of the eternal life in Him. In the words of St. John: "This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree." He tells us their testimony thus: "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life." We know that we have eternal life in Jesus Christ through His baptism of water, blood of His death and the assurance of the Spirit of God.
Baptism becomes the means of attaining eternal life. This calls to mind the words of our Lord Himself: "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit" (John 3:5). We continue to die in Christ as we live daily to bear testimony to His love in the midst of persecution, hatred, insults, fears etc. Whenever we say the truth even when are integrity or financial gain is at stake, we are martyrs. When we speak against societal ills, injustice, abuse of human rights, oppression inspite of persecution and attack, we are martyrs. Whenever we make sacrifice to help the needy, we are martyrs. Living life daily in faithfulness to the call of Christ's gospel, we shed our blood in union with Him and by so doing possessing eternal life.
Eternal life is a victory over the world because the worse the world could do is to kill, but with eternal life we are vindicated and they are put to eternal shame and disgrace. In the words of Jesus Christ, Himself: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mtt. 10:28). Jesus Christ, Himself, conquers the world by His resurrection and now He lives forever.
Today's gospel reading reveals how Jesus Christ wins us the eternal life. He wins us the eternal life by taking away our sins and reconciling us with God. Before we met Christ we were all like the man full of leprosy. Leprosy is a skin disease but for us we had leprosy of the soul, which is sin. Just as leprosy destroys the skin, so also sin destroys the soul. Just as leprosy leads to separation from human community, so also sin leads to separation from God. Just as Jesus cleansed the man full of leprosy and restored him to human community, so also He cleanses our souls of sin by His baptism of water and blood of death. Both the baptism and death of Christ speak of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Through forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God we possess eternal life and we gain victory over the world. This calls us to take seriously the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation, for through them eternal life is bestowed.
Lord our God, we acknowledge our sinfulness, we come to You for forgiveness and reconciliation with You through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
Posts
0 Comments