Memorial of St. John Neumann
It is still early. There is still time to make those New Year’s resolutions I have not made. I have never been very good at making New Year’s resolutions because I always seem to run out of steam by end of January. It isn’t that I don’t have plenty in my life that needs changing but rather thinking about the whole year ahead sometimes overwhelms me. Today’s readings struck me with an idea as to what I can concentrate on in the coming year. Considering that our parish theme is ‘Encountering Christ Every Day’, it seems fitting to resolve to do something each day rather than taking the whole year on at once!
In the Gospel, Jesus has gone to Capernaum to live. Word has spread of his preaching and his healings and people from all around travel to see him, bringing with them the possessed or paralyzed or diseased. The passage says they ‘brought all who are sick’. I cannot say why I am so struck by this except that sometimes I find I am comfortable where I’m at and these few words cause me discomfort.
In the passage from 1 John, the evangelist repeatedly, almost redundantly, makes the point that that as Christians we must believe in the name of Jesus and love one another. He is always saying “we”—“he remains in us” and “we receive from him” and “we should believe”. There is never a singular “you” or an individual addressed at any point. It is an address to a community of people brought together and formed by Jesus—the Jesus who forever reigns in community with the Holy Trinity. A genuine belief and encounter with Jesus Christ necessarily expresses itself in love of others and building up of community. And although I can see where I am involved with my faith community, there is always more work to be done, more ways to actively express my relationship with Jesus. Again, the Gospel speaks of “all” being brought to Jesus by their respective communities. How often am I presented with an opportunity to do just that? How often do I sense someone suffering (at church or elsewhere) but do not embrace the opportunity to help them because I do not know them? How often do I choose my own comfort above the needs of others—in any circumstance? And how often do I rest in anonymity instead of reaching out and touching the suffering of my neighbor? How can I do ‘something’ each day?
Yes, I have plenty to do in the year ahead. My personal encounter with the Savior is not the climax of my Christianity. Nor is it something I can hold on to as an accomplishment. It is only the beginning of my life as a Christian and I am only beginning to come awake. As I continue to listen to Jesus, as I continue to develop an ear for his voice, I pray that I will say ‘yes’ more often to the people placed in front of me. I pray I will see more and more how living as a Christian means “we” rather than “me”. I pray I can be one of those who, in company of my community, can bring ALL in need to Jesus. Above all, I pray I can ‘something’ each day.
--Gail Lyman