Daily Readings - Thu Dec 28 2023
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 nature of God’s light and our response to His will in times of uncertainty. 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 the importance of acknowledging our sins and confessing them, for it is only through such humility that we can experience God’s forgiveness and cleansing. This passage calls us to honesty before God and to trust in His mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew recounts the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution. This narrative highlights the humanity of Jesus and the challenges faced by His family, as well as the faith and obedience of Joseph, who trusted in God’s guidance. The story also fulfills prophecy, showing how God’s plan unfolds even in the midst of danger and uncertainty. Just as the Holy Family had to trust in God’s providence, we too are called to trust in His plan for our lives, even when the path ahead seems difficult or unclear.
Both readings remind us that following God requires humility, trust, and obedience. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that test our faith and our willingness to walk in the light of God’s truth. Like the Holy Family, we may encounter unexpected challenges, but we can draw strength from their example. Let us strive to live in honesty and humility, confessing our sins and trusting in God’s mercy. May we also imitate Joseph’s faith, listening to God’s voice and trusting in His plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.