Happy New Year

To our surprise, on the day of New Year’s Eve we read in 1 John (2:18-21): “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared…”  Eeeeee!   This certainly gives us something else to ponder just before the ball falls in New York City’s Times Square. 

1 John was written more than a few years ago (probably 100 A.D.).  The use of “antichrist” raises the obvious question: “Who was the antichrist?”  But wait, this John said there were many antichrists.  Most historical scholars believe that this John, writing for his 1st century community, was combating an unorthodox belief that Jesus seemed and appeared to be human, but he was really divine and not really human.   Those who believed this were "antichrists" according to First John.

Today’s first reading is but a small piece of 1 John, and taken out of context it sounds like some “evil one” is coming with many similar “evil ones” already being with us.   Although some may fear the New Year because of what evil it might bring, most of us look forward with joyful anticipation.  Why else so many parties and New Year’s kisses?  It’s an opportunity for fresh starts and keeping our resolutions.

First John insists that Jesus came “in the flesh” and “by water and blood.”  According to Marcus Borg in his 2012 book entitled Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written, “…the author also believed that Jesus had been raised and vindicated by God.  But he affirmed the full humanity of Jesus as the incarnation of God’s love.”

Perhaps this is why our Gospel reading (John 1:1-18) was chosen to complement 1 John (or vice versa).  We hear:  “…And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth…” 

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day and time for our new beginnings.   One resolution should be for us to give the Word “flesh” by what we say and do for God, Christ the King, family, friends, and all our neighbors in need of care and compassion.

Happy New Year!

Deacon David Pierce