From death to life

As we go through our lives, trying our best and trusting in the Lord’s grace to rise above our sinfulness and walk in holiness, we sometimes look for milestones – signs of our progress in the ways of God.

Today’s first reading (1 John 3:11-21) gives us a truly blessed milestone.

We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.

The world is full of hate and other terrible things and much of it is directed at us.

Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters,
if the world hates you.

It is only natural if we feel anger and hatred ourselves in return.

But if what comes into our heart instead is only love – not the warm fuzziness that the world calls love, but Christ’s love, desiring the true good of the other – then we know that we have passed from death to life.

Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.