Third Sunday After Easter, Year B 2023 – 24: Epistle Passage – The expectation of belonging to & being in relationship with the Divine

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (I John 3:1)

On one level I agree with this. If our upbringing is not known, it is nay on impossible to place in perspective. Not genetics or ethnic heritage, but what the norms were for us as children and maturing into adulthood. But on another level, if something is distinctive about us from the people around us, then that is going to lead others to question “just what is it about us?!” I have had people figure out my faith and spirituality without my saying anything about it. However, as the writer of I john would point out, if someone does not know about the Christian faith – then they will not understand where the distinctiveness comes from.

“Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (Verses 2 – 3)

I puzzled over this portion of the citation, and wanted answers. So, I looked to my favorite commentator. And the explanation I found is this; we do not know what will come of being children of the Divine. There may be some compensation and advantage in this world – maybe. The advantage may come later in the world to come. And I appreciate the transparency of there not be an automatic assumption that we will reside in heaven becoming part of an ever increasing heavenly chorus. The writer of I John does not know what the revelation of the Christ at the Divine’s coming will be. He is sure that it will illuminate of identity and that identity will be found in Jesus the Christ. And if one has this hope – whatever the hope is and will be – we as believers and children of the Lord God must ready ourselves so that our conduct and intentions are like that of Jesus.

“Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.” (Verses 4 – 6)

This one is tougher; not to understand, but to live out. To remain sinless, to remain lawful under the Eyes of the Divine – whatever lawful or lawless might be. For that matter, what being without sin means. I would like to take the optimistic view that since Jesus’ death sin is no longer something that sticks to us because of the forgiveness, redemption, mercy, and grace we have in Jesus Christ.

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.” (Verse 7)

I like the writings of the writer of I John. The gentleness is so soothing. It is not easy though to do what is right; or more precisely, to easy to do what is wrong. Let not the cloak of righteousness be an assumption that what is beneath the surface is a pure emulation of Jesus the Messiah and that our being is purified. We may be able to maintain the facade, but the Lord God can see through that to our inner being. Shalom & Selah!