St. John Instructs Us to Walk as Christ Walked
St. John the evangelist surely tells it as it is. I love this quote from the second letter of St. John, chapter 2, verses 3-7 “And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
How many of us represent ourselves as followers of Christ, Christians, religious, or even holy. And, yet, as St. John so correctly states, if we say we know Christ but, fail to love our neighbor, we are liars. For, to know Him is to be united with Him. And, we cannot be united to Christ if we do not love unconditionally all of those who God has placed in our lives. St. John further explains that we abide in Him and His commandments when we walk as He walked. In walking as He walked we understand that we are to live in service to our neighbors, perform acts of love and mercy.
What a wonderful word of instruction St. John gives us in the first reading of today’s liturgy as he reminds us to obey God’s commandments, walk as Christ walked, and then find the love for God perfected in us. Let us express our love for dear St. John the evangelist who was so loved by Jesus as we wear a beautiful St. John saint medal.
