Daily Readings - Thu Dec 29 2022

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, obedience, and the revelation of God’s presence. The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes that genuine faith is demonstrated through obedience to God’s commandments. John warns that claiming to know God without following His teachings is deceitful. He highlights that love, both old and new, is central to God’s commandments, cautioning against hatred which leads to darkness. The Gospel from Luke presents the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, where Simeon, a righteous and Spirit-led man, recognizes the infant Jesus as the long-awaited savior. Simeon’s prophecy underscores Jesus’ role in bringing salvation to all people and hints at the challenges and revelations that will come through Him. This narrative illustrates the fulfillment of Jewish law and the dawning of a new era through Jesus. Both readings connect through the theme of recognizing God’s presence and living according to His will. In 1 John, this recognition leads to obedience, while in Luke, it is through faith and openness to the Spirit. Applying this to our lives, we are called to live out our faith through love and service, keeping God’s commandments. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is not just in words but in deeds, walking in the light of love and being open to God’s revelation, even when it brings challenges. Let us strive to embody this faith, embracing obedience and love as we navigate our daily lives.