Daily Readings - Tue Dec 31 2019
1 John
18Little sons, it is the last hour. And, as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have arrived. By this, we know that it is the last hour19They went out from among us, but they were not of us. For, if they had been of us, certainly they would have remained with us. But in this way, it is made manifest that none of them are of us20Yet you have the anointing of the Holy One, and you know everything21I have not written to you as to ones who are ignorant of the truth, but as to ones who know the truth. For no lie is of the truth
John
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word2He was with God in the beginning3All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him4Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it6There was a man sent by God, whose name was John7He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him8He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light9The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him11He went to his own, and his own did not accept him12Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God13These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God14And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten son from the Father, full of grace and truth15John offers testimony about him, and he cries out, saying: "This is the one about whom I said: ‘He who is to come after me, has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 16And from his fullness, we all have received, even grace for grace17For the law was given though Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ18No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him
Sermon
In today's readings, we delve into themes of truth, light, and the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The First Reading from 1 John 2:18-21 addresses the community amid the challenges of the end times, warning of the arrival of antichrists and reassuring the faithful of their secure position in the truth. The Gospel, John 1:1-18, presents the eternal Word, Jesus, who is both the source of creation and the incarnation of God's glory. This prologue contrasts the light of Jesus with the darkness of the world, emphasizing His role as the true Light that illuminates all humanity.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both emphasize the importance of recognizing and clinging to the truth. 1 John highlights the departure of false believers, underscoring the stability of God's truth for the faithful. John's Gospel establishes Jesus as the embodiment of this truth, the Word who brings life and light. Together, they remind us that in a world filled with darkness and falsehood, Jesus is the source of true light and understanding.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to discern truth from falsehood and remain steadfast in our faith. As children of God, we are transformed by our belief in Jesus, who offers us grace and truth. The moral lesson here is the enduring nature of God's truth and the transformative power of faith in Jesus. Let us embrace this truth, allowing it to guide us in our journey, and reflect the light of Christ in our world.