Daily Mass Homily: Wednesday, January 3rd, 2013

           This morning we hear one of St. John’s favorite themes.  This comes, not in our Gospel today but in the first reading: “Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.  If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father…And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.”  John appeals to the fact that we must remain with God to have life.  John also reports this theme in His Gospel.  In John 15 he reports Jesus saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches…remain in me and I in you.”

            There are many ways we can abide with God, but the most important one is the Eucharist.  In fact, some theologians see these references in John’s writings as describing exactly this.  In the Eucharist we truly remain in Christ as He remains in our bodies.

            We come before God again today at Mass.  As we receive the Eucharist this morning, pray that you may remain with Christ this new year, and that Christ will remain with you.