In Deed and Truth

January 5, 2008

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:17-18

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." John 1:48-49

Piety

Lord, help us to see you in others around us who need our compassion and love. Through this service, show us the way to encounter you so that you can get to know us as your friends and followers. Amen.

Study

"True Christianity…is the sacrifice of self for others, because of Christ, because of God. It is shown by signs; it is manifested in deeds. Christianity is sensitive to the suffering and oppression and sorrow of others, to poverty, to all human needs, the first of which is truth."

From the Canonization homily of St. John Nepomucene Neumann (19 June 1977) by Pope Paul VI

The Gospel of John opens and closes with vivid pictures of conversion and faith experienced by the disciples. Today we see the opening act. Nathanael believes that Jesus is the Son of God because Jesus testifies to a fact that Nathanael knows Christ did not directly witness. At the end of the Gospel, we see John kneel when he witnessed the empty tomb and found the burial clothes strewn about the cave. In between, we see many signs of Jesus' work on earth.

The duty to fulfill that sensitivity and service falls to those who "follow" Jesus. Initially, those followers were the disciples. Then, they were the distant churches addresses in the epistles. Now, those followers are you and I. We are enjoined to love in deed and truth not only in the letter of John but also in the homily delivered by Pope Paul VI when John Neumann was canonized.

Action

If you have made a resolution in the New Year to do more service, one place you can look is the interactive database managed by Volunteer Fairfax. Currently listed on the site, Our Daily Bread is looking for volunteers to help families with budgeting and grocery shopping.