13 November: 2 John 4-9: Homily

posted in: Uncategorized | 0

(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)

We begin a series of readings from John’s writings.  From now until the Advent season, we shall hear from 2 and 3 John and the book of Revelation.

I think you understand that people did not write the letters of the New Testament merely to pass the time of day or merely to send congratulations.  They had more serious tasks to handle.

The author of 2 John is an example of this.  He expressed the gladness he felt when he saw that some of his converts, whom he called “children”, were walking in the truth.  On the other hand, he noticed that many of them had stopped walking in the truth.  He wanted them to reorient themselves back to the truth.

Jesus Christ came in the flesh.  He took on human nature.  He is God made man.  If you do not accept this duality in Jesus Christ, then you are an anti-Christ.  Forgetting the human or the divine nature in Jesus Christ is not progressiveness.  It does not advance our appreciation of Christ.  Rather it turns Christ on his head and marks a step backwards.

Furthermore, rejecting the correct understanding of the Lord Jesus, separates a person from God the Father.  If a person does not have both the Father and the Son, that person has neither the Father nor the Son.  A person without a son or daughter cannot be a father.  A person without a father cannot be a son or daughter.  One who rejects the Son of God rejects God as Father.

The author wrote to call his people back to the fullness of the truth.  He saw that when they have the fullness of the truth, they will show it by their love for one another.  If we are fully in accord with God’s teaching, we will show it in a practical way by our love for one another.  If we have any bitterness in our hearts from the elections we have experienced, we have to let it go so that we can effectively love one another.  Lack of love is like denying the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.  If we want to be progressive, we have to love one another; it is the only way.