Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
The arrival of a new year always invites us to reflect on the one just passed. What sort of year was it? A good one? A bad one? Just thinking about the US for the moment, how did we do? How did we do economically? How is our health care system after a few years of COVID? What is the average life expectancy in the US for men and for women? How does that compare to last year? How many Americans actually went to church on a regular basis in 2022? On average, how much time did we spend looking at our cell phones instead of one another? And so forth.
Today’s passage from Saint John’s First Letter invites us to reflect on violence in the US. How was 2022 with respect to violence?
There were more than 40,000 gun deaths in 2022.
Half of those deaths were incidents of suicide.
There were more than six hundred mass shootings in 2022. That is almost twice the number of shootings just four years ago.
The US has the highest rate of death by guns among all other advanced industrialized nation.
The leading cause of death among children is some form of gun violence.
It looks like we did not have a good year when it comes to violence.
If Saint John were to hear these statistics, I think he would be horrified. I can imagine him asking why we Americans are so incredibly violent to one another. And I think he would want to know where Christians are in all of this. I doubt any of our answers would make much sense or be encouraging to him.
I say that because he is so clear in this letter. The points made are pretty straight forward. A few examples:
- “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.”
- “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.”
- “No murderer has eternal life remaining in him.”
- “Whoever does not love remains in death.”
- “If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?”
Like I said, it’s pretty straight forward. Jesus laid down his life for us. For all of us. He did that because he loves us. All of us. As his followers, he expects us to be like him and love our brothers (and sisters, of course). And not just some of them. He means all of them, whether we like them or not. Of course, all of that means that hate is out. Saint John even goes so far to call hate “murder.”
But even beyond that, Jesus expects us (if we have means) to help our brother or sister in need. It’s not enough for us to call ourselves Christians. We have to actually act like we are. And when we do, we may be seen as strange or naïve. We may even be perceived as a threat to a culture so dedicated to violence and hatred. But that is our call. And if we can do it, St. John tells us, then we may have confidence in God! If we love, we can count on God to be with us always.
Oh God of infinite love, may I find ways of showing love to all whom I encounter today. Even if in little ways. And where and how I can, may I help a brother or sister in need. And may I then have confidence to say, “I am a Christian today!” Amen.
-Sue Trollinger