January 5, Friday of the Christmas Week
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Daily readings: 1 John 3:11-21; 1 John 1:43-51
God is love. God asks us to love one another. Whoever loves abides in life, and whoever does not love abides in death. We have to love not in words or speech but in truth and action. Cain is an example of anger, jealousy, and fratricide. He is an evil one.
Love springs life, while hatred causes death. The author of the First Letter of St. John teaches us that we ought to lay down our lives for one another. It is worth recalling the words of Jesus in John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.”.
As love and smiles are contagious, God's experience has to become infectious. In the case of Andrew (yesterday’s Gospel) and Philip, it is true. Andrew introduced Jesus to Peter, his brother (within the family). On the other hand, Philip goes beyond his family by introducing Jesus to Nathanael. It is a gesture of great love. What a gift to offer to someone whom I love!
To bring others to Jesus or give Jesus to them is the best gift we can give them. Jesus appreciates Nathanael for his innocence, and that encourages him to make a profession of faith: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Identifying Nathanael’s zeal for the study of the Holy Scriptures, Jesus promises him a great divine revelation, recalling Gen 28:12 in John 1:51, “…Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”. Jesus is the link between heaven and earth. Jesus will find himself on the cross (ladder) to draw all people to heaven.
St. John Neumann, the only male US citizen to be canonized, was a priest of the Redemptorist Order. He has the distinction of founding the first Catholic Diocesan school system in the US.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: The apostles Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael discover their new identity in Jesus, while Jesus reveals himself as the mediator. One can find one’s true identity only in Jesus!!!
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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