Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 2, 2024

Date:   Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

 Scripture Text:  1 John 2:22-28

Beloved:

Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidenceand not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

 The first reading today from the 1st Letter of John show us John’s judgment of those who deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. In rejecting Jesus’ divinity and sonship, one rejects the Father himself because it was Jesus who revealed to us the Father.

John assures the faithful reader of his letter that through their anointing in Christ they received the Spirit of God.  He further assures them that it is through their relationship with the Father and the Son that they will have life.

Most especially, however, John reminds the faithful of the need to “remain in him” – the essential of discipleship – to remain in Christ and allow Christ to remain in us.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How does my relationship with Christ stand? Am I remaining in Him or only visiting at my convenience?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your beloved Son to dwell among us as our brother because of your great love for us and desire for our salvation. It was through your Son, Jesus Christ, that we first learned to call You “Father”, and it was through his love for You and for us that we came to understand the need for reconciliation. Send your Spirit to strengthen our resolve to remain in Christ and to follow in His footsteps in our earthly journey home. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.