Daily Readings - Sat Dec 31 2022
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 encounter profound truths about the nature of God and our relationship with Him. The first reading from 1 John warns us about the presence of antichrists, false teachers who seek to lead us astray. John reassures us that we have the anointing of the Holy One, which gives us the knowledge of the truth. This anointing is the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us and guides us in discerning what is true and what is false. The reading reminds us that we are in the last hour, a time of spiritual battle, but we are not left without resources. We have the truth of God, and we are called to remain faithful.
The Gospel from John presents the eternal Word, who is Jesus Christ. The prologue of John’s Gospel is a beautiful theological hymn that reveals the divinity of Jesus. The Word was with God from the beginning, and through Him, all things were created. He is the light of humanity, shining in the darkness, and He became flesh to dwell among us. The reading emphasizes that Jesus is the true Light, and those who receive Him become children of God. This truth is both a gift and a challenge. It calls us to recognize the presence of God in our lives and to live in accordance with His grace and truth.
These readings invite us to reflect on the reality of God’s presence in our world and in our hearts. In a time filled with confusion and falsehood, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit equips us to discern the truth. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the ultimate revelation of God’s love and truth. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, we are called to remain rooted in the truth of God’s Word and to live as children of light. Let us embrace the grace and truth that come through Jesus Christ, and may His light shine in us, transforming our lives and the world around us.