Daily Readings - Thu Dec 28 2017
1 John
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin.8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Matthew
13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:18"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about God's nature and our response to His grace. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that God is light, devoid of darkness, and invites us to walk in this light through fellowship and honesty about our sins. John reminds us that Jesus, our advocate, offers forgiveness and cleansing, urging us to confess our sins rather than deny them.
The Gospel from Matthew narrates the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, highlighting God's providential protection and the tragic massacre of the innocents. This event underscores the harsh realities of a world in darkness, yet it also illustrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, as the Holy Family's journey reflects Israel's history.
Both readings intertwine the themes of light versus darkness and redemption. John's letter calls us to live in the light of truth and humility, while Matthew's narrative shows God's intervention in the face of evil. Together, they remind us to trust in God's plan, even amidst adversity, and to seek forgiveness and fellowship. May we embrace the light of Christ, acknowledging our sins and trusting in His providence, allowing His grace to transform our lives.