A reflection on the daily readings, for Saturday of a Christmas Weekday, by Father Perry.
+ Words have such power and significance and meaning.
John proves that again as he speaks about God our Father and how he responds to us and, therefore, how we should see ourselves in relationship to him and to his Son.
John tells us: “We have confidence in him” — and that is because, “he hears us and what we have asked him is ours”; “and we belong to God and are in the One who is true, in his Son, Jesus Christ.”
+ But at the same time, John warns about “idols” and “deadly sin” and the possibility of being “touched by the evil one.”
We should pay attention.
It is hard to say what deadly sin might look like, but I would venture a good guess.
If one person or one council or one senate, or one anything, could take thousands of people and millions of dollars and countless lives into war and death, and destruction and family separations, and years of physical and emotional trauma could encapsulate nations and the world, causing hunger and instability for millions of people, that, it seems to me, could clearly describe deadly sin.
One might suspect that anything that could cause enormous destruction to an individual’s self or another — destruction — is clearly deadly.
+ In contrast, Jesus gives life because Jesus is life.
At a wedding feast, prompted by a lack of wine and a mother’s concern for the wedding couple, Mary urges her dear son to notice this “crisis” (and yes, a lack of wine could clearly be a crisis).
An interesting verbal exchange between mother and son occurs, but in the end he pays attention and “works a miracle or sign” and saves the day, and brings smiles to all.
He also speaks about the “hour,” which no one could possibly understand, but in the process looks ahead to that fateful hour.
Not talking about one out of 24, but rather all of the events wrapped around the betrayal and arrest and conviction and suffering and rejection and walk to the crucifixion and nailing to the cross and slow and intense death.
And then, the wondrous gift of resurrection and eternal life.
Mystery galore!
And not only that — some amazing wine!
+ There might just be a little metaphor hiding in this story.
I wonder if Jesus the Christ does that to and for us all.
I wonder if Jesus the Christ takes the “worn out” us, the “old shoe” in us left over after many years or many trials, the part of us that is “tired” and seemingly “useless.” The part of us that is and has been “spent.”
And he revives, yes; that is, he gives new life.
Can he? Does he? Will he?
Will we let him? Will we notice? Will we ask?
Will he listen (check out John’s letter again)?
And, will we be grateful and speak gratitude with all of our heart?
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
