Daily Readings - Fri Dec 29 2017

³And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.⁴Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,⁵but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:⁶whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.⁷Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.⁸At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.⁹Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.¹⁰Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.¹¹But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Luke

Chapter 2

²²And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,²⁹"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation³¹that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about faith, love, and the light of Christ. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that knowing God is not merely intellectual but demonstrated through obedience to His commandments and love for one another. John warns against the darkness of hatred, emphasizing that true followers of Christ walk in His light, characterized by love and unity. The Gospel from Luke presents the scene of Jesus' presentation in the temple, where Simeon prophetically declares Jesus as the light to the nations, bringing revelation and glory. This moment also foretells the sorrow Mary will endure, symbolizing the sword that pierces her soul, revealing the hearts of many. Both readings, though from different contexts, converge on the theme of light overcoming darkness. John's epistle, written to early Christians facing Gnostic challenges, underscores the importance of living out faith through love and obedience. Luke's narrative, part of the infancy story, highlights Jesus' mission as the universal savior, fulfilling Jewish law and initiating His redemptive work. Together, they illustrate that faith is both personal and communal, requiring us to embody God's love and light in our actions. In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect God's light by loving others and adhering to His commandments. Let us walk in the light of Christ, choosing love over hatred and obedience over indifference. May our faith be a beacon of hope, inspiring others to seek the truth and love of God. As Simeon's prophecy reminds us, Jesus is the revelation to all people, and our lives should reflect His light, guiding others through the darkness. Let us embrace this calling with courage and humility, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us.