Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

“Remain.” The word resounds 6 times through 7 verses, advocating confidence to a young Church whose confidence has been shaken by antichrists, those who, verses 18-19 tell us, “went out from us.”

“Remain.” The antichrist here is not a beast rising from the sea, nor a government oppressing the Church, nor even a churchman placing himself above God. The antichrist here is not even one, but many — former Christians who now deny the Father and the Son. The antichrist could even be you or I; we need only join their number by going out, by leaving.

“Remain.” But how? We received a teaching that remains in us, a teaching to love as our Lord first loved us. Likewise, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, “the anointing that you received from him,” remains in us and teaches us to remain in love. We cannot love God without loving those he sends us. Remain in prayer; remain attentive to the Spirit; and as John writes earlier, remain in the light by loving your human family, antichrists included!