Friday, May 21, 2021
Ideal and Real – Part I: Treatise
Most scholars agree that this treatise on Christ’s love was not written as a letter but rather as a discourse on “certain false ideas, especially about Jesus, and to deepen the spiritual and social awareness of the Christian community”. (Senior 387)
We too, are presented with false teachings about deeply held beliefs. We too, are in need of a deepening spiritual and social awareness. We too, are called to nourish and tend to our community.
“1 John lends itself . . . readily to every time and place. For a document generated by bitter conflict, it is amazingly positive and loving in tone . . . What is stated positively is sometimes denied a short time later. The reason for this alteration of ideal and real lies in the circumstances being addressed . . . First John’s apparent indecisiveness reflects the chastened perspective caused by the trauma of division. The symbols need reshaping. The author urges his readers away from a smug sense of their own perfection, to an awareness of their need to repent. Not only ‘those who went out from us’ have sinned. All have sinned and need the expiation offered by Jesus”. (Senior RG 563)
When we face a bitter conflict, we might follow John’s example of adopting an amazing and loving tone.
When we experience indecisiveness, we might want to find out if the wavering comes from a real or perceived trauma.
When we feel smugly superior to others because of our assumed perfection, we might repent and ask forgiveness of those whom we have slighted.
I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.
What is real? What is imagined? What is perfect? What is flawed? Spend a bit of time today with 1 John 2 to consider the challenge this loving apostle lays out before us. Reflect on what is real, on what is ideal, and on what we do with our own flawed and accurate perceptions.
Tomorrow – Part II: Connecting
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.387 & RG 563. Print.
Adapted from a reflection written on Sunday, January 10, 2010.
Image from: http://www.catholicmarriageprep.com/resources/wedding-readings
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