Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NABRE)
John urges us not to love what is hostile toward God and alienated from him.* When we love something, we put it before other things, we idolize it, we focus our attention on it, we miss it when we are away from it.
What John calls "the world" are all the things that draw our thoughts and actions away from God. Whether by way of summary or as examples, he lists three: sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life.
John's words are very practical and modern. When we give our hearts, minds, time, energy, and attention over to an inordinate desire for physical gratification, avarice or covetousness, or pride, arrogance, or ostentation, our earthly style of life reflects a willful independence from God and others.*
Today, I will consider my own ties to this world which turn my attention away from God and hold me for too long.
Saint Egwin, known as a protector of orphans and the widowed, a fair judge, and who was a bishop determined to correct abuses by members of the clergy, pray for us.
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