Daily Readings - Wed Dec 28 2022
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
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 nature of light and darkness, sin and redemption, and the trust we must place in God’s providence. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that God is light, and to walk in His light means to live in truth and fellowship with one another. John emphasizes that acknowledging our sins and confessing them is not a sign of weakness but of humility and faith. He reassures us that Jesus, the Just One, is our Advocate, who not only forgives our sins but also offers His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. This passage calls us to honesty about our imperfections and trust in God’s mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic scene from the early life of Jesus. After the Magi’s visit, Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child Jesus to escape Herod’s jealousy and violence. This flight into Egypt fulfills the prophecy that God would call His Son out of Egypt, a motif that echoes Israel’s own deliverance from slavery. Meanwhile, Herod’s brutal decree to kill all boys under two years old in Bethlehem is a chilling reminder of the darkness that opposes God’s plan. Yet, even in the midst of such suffering, God’s Word is fulfilled, and His Son is preserved. The weeping of Rachel for her children, cited from Jeremiah, reflects the sorrow of a world in need of redemption.
These readings remind us that our lives are often marked by the interplay of light and darkness. Like Joseph, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or dangerous. Like the early Christians addressed by John, we are called to walk in the light of truth, acknowledging our sins and relying on God’s forgiveness. In a world that often chooses darkness over light, we are to be beacons of hope, living in fellowship with one another and trusting in the mercy of our Advocate, Jesus Christ. Let us strive to live in the light, knowing that God’s plan, though sometimes shrouded in mystery, is always one of love and redemption.