The above verse, 1 John 2:27, refers to Jeremiah 31:34, which reads, "No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the Lord. All, from least to greatest, shall know Me, says the Lord." Isaiah prophesied "that the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea" (Is 11:9). Hosea prophesied that God desires knowledge of Himself more than sacrificial offerings (Hos 6:6).
Although God makes Himself known to us directly, we still need to be taught. Why then would St. John say that we have no need for anyone to teach us? (1 Jn 2:27) Perhaps it's because John is speaking about the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13) and reminds us of all Jesus taught us (Jn 14:26).
The anointing of the Spirit which "teaches [us] about all things" (1 Jn 2:27) also convicts us of sin (Jn 16:8). "He who loves correction loves knowledge" (Prv 12:1). But most of us don't want to be corrected. Thus we struggle with docility to the Spirit's desire to teach us everything. We need help; we need godly teachers. If we all received the Spirit deeply and lived day by day in the Spirit (Gal 5:25), we would know the Lord and follow the Spirit's guidance. "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
| PRAYER: | Father, "teach me Your paths" (Ps 25:4). |
| PROMISE: | "He Himself made us a promise and the promise is no less than this: eternal life." –1 Jn 2:25 |
| PRAISE: | St. Gregory wrote of St. Basil: "We seemed to be two bodies with a single spirit. Our single object and ambition was virtue and a life of hope in the blessings that are to come." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College