Daily Readings - Sat Dec 28 2019

1 John

5And this is the announcement which we have heard from him, and which we announce to you: that God is light, and in him there is no darkness6If we claim that we have fellowship with him, and yet we walk in darkness, then we are lying and not telling the truth7But if we walk in the light, just as he also is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin8If we claim that we have no sin, then we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us9If we confess our sins, then he is faithful and just, so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity10If we claim that we have not sinned, then we make him a liar, and his Word is not in us
1My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One2And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world

Matthew

13And after they had gone away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.14And getting up, he took the boy and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt15And he remained there, until the death of Herod, in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Out of Egypt, I called my son.16Then Herod, seeing that he had been fooled by the Magi, was very angry. And so he sent to kill all the boys who were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years of age and under, according to the time that he had learned by questioning the Magi17Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, saying18"A voice has been heard in Ramah, great weeping and wailing: Rachel crying for her sons. And she was not willing to be consoled, because they were no more.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of light, sin, and God’s providential care. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that God is light, and to walk in His light means living in truth and acknowledging our sinfulness. John emphasizes that while we are sinners, God’s mercy is abundant, and through confession, we receive forgiveness. This passage calls us to humility and honesty before God, recognizing that His light exposes our sins but also offers us cleansing through the blood of Christ. The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic scene from the early life of Jesus. The Holy Family’s flight into Egypt underscores God’s protective care over His Son, even in the face of danger. Herod’s violence against the innocent children of Bethlehem, however, reveals the darkness of sin and the opposition to God’s plan. This narrative reminds us that following God does not mean escaping all trials but trusting in His providence, even in the midst of uncertainty and suffering. Both readings encourage us to live in the light of God’s truth and to trust in His care. Like the Holy Family, we may face challenges, but we are called to walk in faith, knowing that God’s light will guide us. Let us examine our lives, confess our sins, and trust in God’s mercy. May we, like Joseph, obey God’s will and find refuge in Him, for He is our Advocate and our Savior.