Daily Readings - Sat Dec 28 2019
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of light, sin, and God’s providential care. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that God is light, and to walk in His light means living in truth and acknowledging our sinfulness. John emphasizes that while we are sinners, God’s mercy is abundant, and through confession, we receive forgiveness. This passage calls us to humility and honesty before God, recognizing that His light exposes our sins but also offers us cleansing through the blood of Christ.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a dramatic scene from the early life of Jesus. The Holy Family’s flight into Egypt underscores God’s protective care over His Son, even in the face of danger. Herod’s violence against the innocent children of Bethlehem, however, reveals the darkness of sin and the opposition to God’s plan. This narrative reminds us that following God does not mean escaping all trials but trusting in His providence, even in the midst of uncertainty and suffering.
Both readings encourage us to live in the light of God’s truth and to trust in His care. Like the Holy Family, we may face challenges, but we are called to walk in faith, knowing that God’s light will guide us. Let us examine our lives, confess our sins, and trust in God’s mercy. May we, like Joseph, obey God’s will and find refuge in Him, for He is our Advocate and our Savior.