The Epistle of St. John which we read in the days after Christmas has been chosen not so much as commentary on the events of Bethlehem themselves but because it reminds us of the effect that having God-with-us should have on the community. Welcoming and loving Jesus as God sharing our humanity implies expanding that welcome and love to include all humanity. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. St. John does not say this as a fine theory but as a reaction to the fact that his community is being ripped apart by division and disagreement. The same lesson applies to our situation today.
