Daily Readings - Wed Dec 28 2022
1 John
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.8If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Matthew
13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature 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 to live in truth and fellowship with one another. John emphasizes that acknowledging our sins and confessing them is not a sign of weakness but of humility and faith. He reassures us that Jesus, 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 imperfections and trust in God’s mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic scene from the early life of Jesus. After the Magi’s visit, Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child Jesus to escape Herod’s jealousy and violence. This flight into Egypt fulfills the prophecy that God would call His Son out of Egypt, a motif that echoes Israel’s own deliverance from slavery. Meanwhile, Herod’s brutal decree to kill all boys under two years old in Bethlehem is a chilling reminder of the darkness that opposes God’s plan. Yet, even in the midst of such suffering, God’s Word is fulfilled, and His Son is preserved. The weeping of Rachel for her children, cited from Jeremiah, reflects the sorrow of a world in need of redemption.
These readings remind us that our lives are often marked by the interplay of light and darkness. Like Joseph, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or dangerous. Like the early Christians addressed by John, we are called to walk in the light of truth, acknowledging our sins and relying on God’s forgiveness. In a world that often chooses darkness over light, we are to be beacons of hope, living in fellowship with one another and trusting in the mercy of our Advocate, Jesus Christ. Let us strive to live in the light, knowing that God’s plan, though sometimes shrouded in mystery, is always one of love and redemption.