Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Daily Readings for December 29, 2015

1ST READING

Love is inclusive. This does not mean that there are more than two participants in a marriage, but even married people seek to reach out to those in need around them. Love does not seek separation from others. Jesus does not exclude anyone because of sin. He forgives our sins. What remains to be seen is whether we accept that forgiveness or not.

1 John 2:3-11
3 Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: 6 Whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked. 7 Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. 11 Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


P S A L M

Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 5-6

R: Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. 2 Sing to the Lord; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day. 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) 5 The Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty go before him; praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.


GOSPEL

Simeon has a deep faith in the Lord. He waited for the day when he can set his eyes upon the Savior of the world, and it has finally come. Now he is happy to die, maybe because he believes his salvation is near at hand. Let us pray that we may deepen our belief in the Gospel and never doubt its efficacy, even in the most trying situations.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.

Luke 2:22-35
22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, 24 and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 29 “Lord, now let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled: 30 my own eyes have seen the salvation, 31 which you prepared in the sight of every people, 32 a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory for your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted 35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”



No comments:

Post a Comment