Homily for the Memorial Mass
for Bro. Andrew Rose, CFC
Feb. 8, 2022
1 John 3: 1-3
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, New Rochelle
“See
what love the Father has bestowed on us” (1 John 3: 1).
This morning’s reflection from St. John begins with the work of God: see what God has done for us, what love he has bestowed on us. Christian life is a gift, a grace. Likewise our religious vocation, of which Bro. Andy seems to have been particularly aware. And what a grace it is to be aware of God’s gift in us!
The
gift of God that is ours thru Baptism is to “be called the children of God”
(3:1). Quite simply, Baptism joins us to
Christ, God’s Son by nature. We become
his children by grace, or by adoption as we often say—because the Father has
chosen to love us as he naturally loves the Son.
So
we are already God’s children (3:2).
According to John, more is coming.
When Christ returns, it will be revealed, i.e., our future destiny, our
eternal destiny, will be revealed. We
shall “be like him,” i.e., like Christ, “for we shall see him as he is” (3:2),
as the risen, glorious, perfect human being, the very image of God the
Father. And in the glorious reflection
of Jesus, we shall be the images of God that God 1st intended in Eden.
May
it be so for our Bro. Andy and for each of us.
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