Daily Readings - Tue Dec 29 2020

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 explore themes of faith, obedience, and divine recognition. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes knowing God through keeping His commandments and loving one another. It warns against false claims of faith without corresponding actions, urging believers to walk in the light of God's truth. The Gospel from Luke recounts the presentation of Jesus at the temple, where Simeon, a righteous man guided by the Holy Spirit, recognizes the infant Jesus as the Messiah. Simeon's prophecy highlights Jesus' role as a light to the nations and foretells the challenges He will face, including Mary's personal sorrow. These passages are set in contexts that highlight the importance of faith and obedience. 1 John was likely written to a community facing false teachings, encouraging them to live out their faith through love and obedience. Luke's narrative is part of the infancy story, showcasing Mary and Joseph's adherence to Jewish customs and Simeon's faithful anticipation of the Messiah. Both readings underscore the recognition of God's presence and the call to live according to His will. In our daily lives, these readings remind us to live out our faith through actions and love, trusting in God's plan even when it's challenging. Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the light to the nations reflects the universal call to follow God's truth. Mary's trust amidst prophecy exemplifies steadfast faith. The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be evident in our deeds and love, and we must trust in God's plan, even when the path is uncertain. Let us strive to walk in the light of God's truth, embracing both the joys and challenges of our faith.