Octave of Christmas
29th December 2023 (Friday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 John 2:3-11
Beloved: By this we know that we have come to know Jesus Christ, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 (R. 11a)
R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 2:22-35
When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Truth is truthfulness
Guidlines: Truth is not merely a matter of intellect and commandment is not merely a matter of legality. For us as the followers of Christ, knowing the truth and following commandments is a matter of faithful life{alertSuccess}
1. For many, knowing is only an intellectual capacity and exercise. There is no guarantee that such knowledge affects and changes the life of a person. But for us, the disciples of Christ, knowing is believing and living, abiding in him and following. That is why, St John in the first reading attests that the test for knowing God is to follow his commandments.
2. Now what are these commandments? Loving God and loving the other. This is the only way to know and follow the truth. One who does not follow this double-pronged love, is not in truth and is a liar. Further, this is the only way to know the light and walk in the light. Jesus is the light and one who does not know and believe and follow him, is not in the light.
3. If one is truly walking in the light, that is following Jesus, then it must be shown and testified by his love for his brother. Therefore, knowing, believing, abiding in the truth and walking in the light are all essentially connected to loving God and loving the other.
4. The beauty of the Word of God is that concepts like truth and light are understood in terms of experience, relationship, loyalty and commitment. They are not conceptual or abstract. They are always in reference to Christ. That is why Simeon, a righteous and devout person who encounters the child Jesus in the temple at his purification ceremony, blesses and declares Christ to be the light of all.
5. The purification and presentation of Jesus as per the Jewish custom is not merely a fulfilment of the custom, but much more a symbolic act. His presentation symbolizes his self-offering for humanity. His purification indicates the purification of the sin-infected humanity. This purification in terms of truth and light would mean abiding in truth and walking in the light. In other words, it means to be faithful to Christ and to love the other.
6. Those who are with Christ and for Christ will certainly be pierced by a sword of sorrow like Mary. She became a sharer in the divine plan of salvation along with her Son. Therefore she becomes also a partaker of his own struggle against falsity and darkness.
Practice: Christ is both the truth and the light. He calls for a truthful and authentic life. He also gives us the light to see the path and walk it. Such a life in concrete implies a life of devotion and righteousness like Simeon and a sword of suffering like Mary{alertSuccess}