Battles still rage

By Steve Hall

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
1 John 2:12-17
Luke 2:36-40

Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.

John’s writings have always been challenging. Whether it’s his Gospel, one of his three brief epistles, or the Book of Revelation — none can be read with casual attention or an apathetic openness to understanding. It was the verse just reread that caught my attention this time. At first it seems as tho John has taken an extreme position. After all, this world and all within it or upon it or around it were created by God and God saw that each and everything he created was good. Then we remember that the problem, of course, began with an ‘apple’ in a garden a long time ago. Paul spoke of this matter when writing to the Romans.

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)

And in this passage from John today we are confronted with the consequences. “For all that is in the world . . . is not from the Father but is from the world.” Jesus’ conquest over sin and death may well be total and final; however, battles still rage with an evil enemy unwilling to accept or acknowledge defeat. It is because of that that “We know that the whole creation has been groaning with labor pains together until now. . . . “ (Romans 8:22)

A consideration of all that comprises this world yields a disappointing truth: Sin and death have both been conquered, but the refuse of evil’s sway over untold millennia are still detritus encountered by those who recognize the new Lord — Jesus Christ. In the Divine Office for today the Church still recognizes this truth: “. . . ancient servitude holds us bound beneath the yoke of sin.”

It’s easy to recognize the wondrous beauty of God’s creation. From the newly revealed galaxies and stars hidden by distance from our view to the exquisite beauty of a tiny mountain orchid, the wonders of creation abound. Yet, even dedication to family can be sufficiently distorted to turn our attention from God. It was this distortion which Jesus spoke of when teaching his disciples: “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) Love of anyone cannot come before our love of God.