St. John the Evangelist Speaks To Us About Advancing Our Own Spirituality

Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM

Advancing Our Own Spirituality

The Apostle John, within his first letter, address three categories of people; children, young men, and fathers.

The Apostle has something unique to say to each of these three groups. In doing so, John speaks to the entire breadth of Christian Communities. He speaks to each group, addressing each at their level of spirituality.

Growth in Christian life is the growth in maturity in one’s spiritual life . . . a growth in spiritual adulthood. Everyone, every Christian, starts out spiritually as a little child. Many of us, unfortunately, do not progress spiritually beyond the level of childhood. Regrettable, but true for most Christians.

He also speaks to the young men . . . those who advance out of childhood, to the cusp of adulthood. John speaks to each group, so that individuals will not stay there . . . but move forward in their spiritual life.

John writes to the little children, because they have been forgiven of their sins. He begins with this group, because this group is at the starting point of spiritual life. In the forgiveness of the children’s sins, the group begins to also know the Father. Spiritual life’s fundamental goal, for all Christians, is to fully know the Lord. Listen to more about what John says about this spiritual group.

Spirituality Enables Us to Bring “My Will” into Conformity with “God’s Will”

The Apostle also addresses the Christian Fathers; the group that has reached adulthood and has reached a mature level of spirituality. They look after the well-being of the community. This group has come to know Him, the fullness of the Lord. How does one get there? Hear more about what Saint John says about this group.

The third group the Apostle speaks about is the Young Men, or Young Woman. This is the intermediate group. This group has overcome the world. What does that mean? This group has not only experienced the forgiveness of the Lord, but they have also grown beyond those sins. Listen to what St. John says about this group!

Three spiritual groups. What does the saint say to us? Why and how can we grow spiritually? Spiritual maturity involves knowing more fully the Lord. Spirituality’s goal is not just to know the Lord, but also to bring “my will” into conformity with “God’s will”. This just does not happen by saying a prayer . . . or a series of prayers.

Hear the Beloved Apostle’s message to us today!