Unshaken Witness: Remaining in the Truth of Love
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
1 John 2:22-28
Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. 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 this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. 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.
Grace Prayed For
The Grace of Persevering Abidance: Pray for the gift of a “staying heart”—the grace to remain rooted in your relationship with Jesus despite distractions, so that your life may naturally radiate the truth of His coming to everyone you meet.
Reflection
Intimacy with Jesus is described by St. John as a beautiful, persistent act of remaining. It is the “abiding” life. To prepare the way for the Lord in your heart is to ensure that the truth you “heard from the beginning”—the simple, profound reality that Jesus is the Christ who loves you—takes up permanent residence in your soul.
When John speaks of “remaining in Him,” he is inviting you into a friendship that does not flicker with the changing emotions of the day. It is an intimacy built on the “anointing” you received at your Baptism. This anointing is like a spiritual compass; it hums within you, teaching you to recognize the voice of the Shepherd amidst the lies and distractions of the world.
But this intimacy is not a passive retreat. It is the fuel for your baptismal mission. We remain in Him so that we may have “confidence” when He appears. This confidence isn’t just for the end of time; it is a courageous boldness for today. When you abide deeply in Jesus, you naturally begin to leak His love onto everyone you encounter. Sharing the Gospel becomes less about a rehearsed speech and more about the overflow of a heart that is at home in God. To give witness is simply to let others see the peace that comes from the One who remains in you.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post