Daily Readings - Mon Dec 28 2020
1 John
5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Matthew
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."16Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:18"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of light, darkness, and the trustworthiness of God’s plan. 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 the importance of acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness, for it is only through humility and confession that we experience God’s mercy and cleansing. He also reassures us that Jesus, the Just One, is our Advocate before the Father, interceding for us and for the whole world.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic scene from the early life of Jesus: the flight into Egypt. Joseph, acting on the instructions of an angel, trusts God’s plan and flees with Mary and the child Jesus to escape Herod’s violence. This passage underscores the tension between light and darkness, as Herod’s jealousy and desire for power lead to great suffering. Yet, even in the midst of darkness, God’s plan unfolds, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus, like the Israelites of old, would be called out of Egypt. The weeping of Rachel for her children echoes the universal human experience of loss and sorrow, but it also points to the hope of redemption that Jesus brings.
These readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain or fraught with difficulty. Like Joseph, we are invited to listen for God’s voice and act with faith, even in the face of fear or doubt. Like John, we are reminded to walk in the light, acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness, so that we may live in truth and fellowship with one another. May we, like the Holy Family, find the courage to trust in God’s providence and to seek refuge in Him, for He is our Advocate, our Light, and our Salvation.