Daily Readings - Tue Dec 28 2021
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 interplay 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 living truthfully and humbly, acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness. John reassures us that Jesus Christ, 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 failings and trust in God’s mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic contrast between the light of Christ and the darkness of human sin. Herod’s ruthless attempt to destroy the infant Jesus symbolizes the world’s resistance to the light of God. Yet, in the midst of danger, Joseph trusts in God’s guidance, obeying the angel’s command to flee to Egypt. This passage reminds us that even in uncertain and perilous times, God’s plan unfolds, and His promises are fulfilled. The Holy Family’s journey into exile and their eventual return from Egypt echo the prophet’s words, “Out of Egypt, I called my son,” a foreshadowing of Jesus’ mission to redeem all humanity.
In our own lives, we often face challenges that seem insurmountable, like the darkness Herod represents. But today’s readings encourage us to walk in the light of truth, to acknowledge our sins, and to trust in God’s providence. Like Joseph, we are called to listen to God’s voice, even in the stillness of the night, and to act with faith. Let us remember that Jesus, our Advocate, is always with us, offering forgiveness and strength. May we, like the Holy Family, trust in God’s plan and find refuge in His light, even when the world around us seems filled with darkness.