Year's End

I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the Evil One. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the Evil One. 

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. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:12-17)

Interesting that in this first letter from this writer called John there is no reference to mothers or young women.  Perhaps because John speaks of “sensual lust and enticement for the eyes,” and that would be women, the “Eves” that tempt and cause men to sin. Remember the fruit Eve gave Adam, and he ate.  Cute story.  Ah yes, women that cause men to succumb to temptation.  Hogwash!

Nevertheless, we men and women conquer the Evil One when we do the will of God; that is, when the Word of God [Jesus] remains in and guides us as we contend with the world in which the Evil One has many allies and demons.  Our Father, deliver us from evil on this last day of 2021 and through the new year.

Deacon David Pierce