Daily Readings - Wed Dec 29 2021

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, obedience, and the light of God that guides us through the darkness of the world. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that knowing God is not merely an intellectual exercise but a lived experience rooted in keeping His commandments. John emphasizes that love for our brothers and sisters is a fundamental expression of walking in the light of God. He warns that hatred and darkness blind us, separating us from the truth of God’s love. This passage calls us to examine our actions and relationships, ensuring that they reflect the charity and truth of God’s Word. In the Gospel, Luke presents the scene of Mary and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the temple for purification, in accordance with Jewish law. Here, Simeon, a righteous and Spirit-filled man, recognizes Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the light of revelation to the nations. Simeon’s prophecy also reveals the deeper significance of Jesus’ mission: He will bring both salvation and division, and Mary, as the Mother of the Messiah, will share in the sorrows of His redemptive work. This passage underscores the universal scope of God’s plan and the transformative power of faith, even in the face of suffering. Together, these readings remind us that living as children of God means embracing both the light of His truth and the challenges that come with it. Like Simeon, we are called to recognize and proclaim the presence of God in our lives, even when it requires us to confront darkness and difficulty. John’s letter challenges us to live out our faith in love and obedience, ensuring that our words and actions align with the truth of God’s commandments. As we navigate the complexities of daily life, may we remain steadfast in the light of God’s love, allowing it to guide us through every trial and to shine forth in a world still shrouded in darkness.