How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
Pondering and meditating: Possessions have value because they bear the stamp of the Creator's handiwork. Usually, too, they contain the toil and skill of other human beings, precious to God. Things are meant to be tools, which by their presence or absence in our lives move us closer to the God with whom we are meant to spend eternity. John reminds us that it's not right for us to hold these blessings to ourselves, while others lack - others, whom Christ loves with the same depth and passion. So what is one thing - one needful thing, one beautiful thing, one sacrificial (for me) thing - which I can offer, today, to bless another who lacks?
Prayer: God, your Son did not even consider equal status with you as something to be grasped and hoarded. Forgive me for being so hard and trivial as to hoard what you have given to bless others. As you opened your hands on the cross, let me open my hands to bless someone near me. Lay a name or face or place on my heart, and let my open hands follow. Amen.
