St Benet Biscop

Friday, 11 January 2008

First Letter of John 5,5-13.

Who (indeed) is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name f the Son of God.


Psalms 147,12-13.14-15.19-20.

Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God,
Who has strengthened the bars of your gates, blessed your children within you,
Brought peace to your borders, and filled you with finest wheat.
The LORD sends a command to earth; his word runs swiftly!
The LORD also proclaims his word to Jacob, decrees and laws to Israel.
God has not done this for other nations; of such laws they know nothing. Hallelujah!


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 5,12-16.

Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but "Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

JESUS IS LIFE

"The testimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." –1 John 5:11

When God gave us life, He didn't give us an elixir, a potion, a pill, guaranteed health, a fountain of youth, or an unlimited supply of money to provide life. Instead, He gave us Jesus. God sent Jesus the Life into the world, and "this Life became visible" (1 Jn 1:2).

Jesus is "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25). He is "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6). He is the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35) and "the Word of Life" (1 Jn 1:1). To us, " 'life' means Christ" (Phil 1:21). Jesus, the Life, testifies: "I came that they might have life and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10). When you believe that Jesus is God, you "have life in His name" (Jn 20:31; see also Jn 3:15-16).

Whoever is in Jesus finds life (Jn 1:4). "Whoever possesses the Son possesses life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not possess life. I have written this to you to make you realize that you possess eternal life – you who believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 Jn 5:12-13).

Jesus bluntly states the problem: "You are unwilling to come to Me to possess that life" (Jn 5:40). Many want life, but not from Jesus. We live in a culture of death. We cannot change a culture of death to a civilization of life except through Jesus, Who is Life and Who gives life. Social programs, medical skill, or advanced technology won't give life. Life is only found in Jesus. Scripture says: "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life" (Dt 30:19). Choose Jesus.