Daily Readings - Sat Dec 28 2024
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 divine plan. The First Reading from 1 John reminds us that God is light, and to walk in this light, we must acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness. John emphasizes that Jesus, our advocate, atones for our sins, offering us redemption and fellowship with God. This letter, written to early Christians, addresses the reality of sin and the necessity of confession, countering Gnostic influences that denied the flesh.
The Gospel from Matthew narrates the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, escaping Herod’s persecution. This passage fulfills prophecy and highlights the tragedy of innocent suffering. The massacre of the innocents underscores the world’s darkness but also reveals God’s plan to save humanity through Jesus. This story is part of Matthew’s infancy narrative, illustrating the divine mission of Jesus and the protection of His family, symbolizing the Church’s journey through trials.
These readings connect through themes of light versus darkness and the reality of sin. The First Reading sets a spiritual context, while the Gospel illustrates this struggle in Jesus’ early life. The flight to Egypt symbolizes trust in divine providence, urging us to acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness. Just as Joseph trusted God, we should trust in His plan, even in adversity. The readings remind us to live in the light, confess our sins, and have faith in God’s protection. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God, seek forgiveness, and walk in His light, finding strength in His providence amidst life’s challenges.