Seventh Day within
the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
(I John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18)
In the first reading, the author, who is known as John
the Elder, writes of antichrists. He finds them repugnant for having left his
community. Later on in the document he refers
to those who do not acknowledge that Christ has come in the flesh as having the
“spirit of the antichrist” (4:2). The meaning
of the passage is not completely clear, but given the times, one can offer an
explanation. It probably refers to those
who deny that Jesus had a corporeal body -- a familiar concept of the Gnostic
heretics prominent in the first centuries after Christ. Dismissing Christ’s body enabled the Gnostics
to downplay the need to guard against excesses of their own bodies.
If there are antichrists in the world today corresponding
to those castigated in the first reading, they would include those eat foolishly
and avoid exercise. Often these people
are plagued by emotional problems so that they deny the value and lack the will
to care for their bodies. They need the
encouragement of others and a heightened sense that God cares about their
health.
Taking our bodies seriously because Christ had a body is
a worthy thought on the eve of a new year.
We do not want to party so much tonight that our bodies will ache tomorrow. Also, we want to firmly resolve to diet and
exercise regularly in 2015 so that our bodies may serve the glory of God.
