Saint John Neumann
1 Jn 3: 11-21
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Showing Love For All
It is fitting that we are reminded of our duty to love one another today, the feast of St. John Neumann, the 19th century German immigrant to the United States, who is the patron saint of immigrants. It is also fitting that we hear this reading today, with the call to love one another, during the week when the 118th Congress convenes for the first time. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, almost everyone can agree that the United States immigration system is broken and desperately needs fixing.
Please join me in praying that Congress will get its act together, reach across the aisle, and finally pass a comprehensive just immigration reform bill that reflects God’s love for all of us.
—Peg Anderson is an attorney with Fox Swibel in Chicago and is on the board of Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Illinois.
Prayer
Lord, we pray for each and every member of the new Congress, even those we disagree with (maybe, particularly those we disagree with.) May each of them become aware of your tremendous love for them as individuals, so that, comforted and strengthened by that love, they may show love “not in word or speech, but in truth and action”.
—Peg Anderson