FORGIVEN AND SAVED IN HIS NAME: EMBRACING CHRIST’S GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, (1 JOHN 2: 12-17).

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, we are indeed blessed to receive the gift of the Divine Word. We continue our meditation on the first letter of St. John. Today, we meditate on 1 John 2:12-17. In this passage, John reminds us that our sins have been forgiven through the Name of Jesus. We recall the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel told Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” In the Hebrew language, Yeshua – Jesus means "God saves," "delivers," and so forth.

John begins by stating, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.” This is a profound reminder of the incredible gift of salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. Our sins have been forgiven, and we have been made new in Christ. The salvation bestowed upon us through the mystery of the Incarnation is a gift to be gratefully received. It is for this reason that St. John warns us about the perils of sin and the importance of remaining steadfast in our devotion to God. Having been forgiven by God through His name, we must continuously renew ourselves in this gift of salvation to avoid reverting to a world characterized by opposition to God, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life. St Paul invites us in this constant renewal in Romans 12: 1-2.

We recall that the fall of Adam and Eve began with the enticement of the eyes. The serpent presented the forbidden fruit as appealing. The Bible tells us, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” From that moment, their perception, and indeed our perception of realities became distorted. Thus, we struggle to see the beauty of the world as a gift from God; instead, we view it as something to possess for satisfying our desires for power, pleasure, and wealth.

John continues, “I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” This serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our faith journey. We all need the support of our elders and peers as we grow in our relationship with God.

John then cautions us about the dangers of sin, saying, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." This admonition reminds us that we must be vigilant not to allow the things of this world to distract us from God. We must focus our hearts and minds on things that are eternal.

Finally, John encourages us to remain close to God, asserting, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This reassures us that despite the trials and challenges we may face in this life; we can triumph by staying close to God and trusting in His promises.

In this time of the Nativity of Jesus, let us reflect on the name Jesus, invoke his names over our lives, families, villages, states, countries. For there is power in His name. At the mention of the name Jesus all knees must bow (Philippians 2:10-11). 

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, in this sacred season of the Nativity, we turn our hearts to You in gratitude and awe. As we meditate on the words of St. John, we are reminded of the profound gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who came to redeem and renew us.

Lord, we thank You for the forgiveness of our sins, a grace bestowed through the holy Name of Jesus. Help us to cherish and embrace this gift of salvation, ever mindful of Your love and mercy. Guide us to turn away from the allurements of the world, sensual desires, the enticement of the eyes, and the pursuit of earthly pleasures, that draw us away from You.

Grant us, O God, the wisdom to see the beauty of Your creation as a reflection of Your glory, not as objects of possession. In this time of celebration, renew in us a steadfast spirit to love You above all, to seek the eternal rather than the transient.

May we remain close to You, drawing strength from Your promise that in Jesus, You have overcome the world.

 

We ask this in the precious Name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.