Daily Readings - Sat Dec 29 2018

³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.⁴He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.⁵But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.⁶He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.⁷Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.⁸Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.⁹He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Luke

Chapter 2

²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;²³As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;³⁵Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of light, love, and the revelation of God’s plan. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of living out our faith through actions, particularly through love. John writes that we know God by keeping His commandments and that love is the essence of walking in the light. This passage challenges us to move beyond mere words and to embody our faith in our daily interactions, especially in how we treat others. The Gospel from Luke presents the scene of Jesus’ presentation in the temple, where Simeon, a righteous and Spirit-filled man, recognizes the infant Jesus as the light of revelation to the Gentiles. Simeon’s prophecy highlights both the joy of salvation and the future suffering that Jesus will endure. This moment in the temple is a fulfillment of prophecy and a revelation of God’s plan to bring light to all nations. It reminds us that Jesus is both the source of light and a sign of contradiction, calling us to reflect on how we receive this light in our own lives. As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to consider how we live as children of light. Just as Simeon trusted in God’s plan and recognized the light of salvation, we too are called to trust in God’s plan and to live in a way that reflects the light of Christ. This means loving one another, keeping God’s commandments, and being willing to embrace the challenges that come with being a sign of contradiction in a world often shrouded in darkness. May we, like Simeon, embrace the light of Christ and allow it to shine through us, revealing the thoughts of our hearts and guiding us on the path of truth and love.