December
29, 2015
The
Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Saint
of the Day: Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr (1170)
Reading 1
3Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep His commandments.[1] 4Whoever
says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth
is not in Him. 5But 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: 6whoever
claims to abide in Him ought to walk just as He walked.
7Beloved,
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.[2] 8And
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.[3]
9Whoever
says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 10Whoever
loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a
fall.
11Whoever
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.
Responsorial Psalm
1Sing
to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 2aSing to the LORD;
bless His name.
R.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
2bAnnounce His salvation, day after day. 3Tell His glory among the nations;
among
all peoples, His wondrous deeds.
R.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
5bThe
LORD made the heavens. 6Splendor and majesty go before Him; praise
and grandeur are in His sanctuary.
R.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Alleluia
Luke 2:32
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
A
light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
22When
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,[4] 23just
as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall
be consecrated to the Lord, 24and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of
the Lord.
25Now
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.[5] 26It
had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before
he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27He
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, 28He took Him into his
arms and blessed God, saying: 29“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your
word has been fulfilled: 30my own eyes have seen the salvation 31which you
prepared in the sight of every people, 32a light to reveal you to the nations and
the glory of your people Israel.”
33The
child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about Him; 34and
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.”[6]
Notes on readings:
[1] 1 John 2:3-6 - The way we may be
sure: to those who claim, "I have known Christ and therefore I know Him," our author insists on not mere intellectual knowledge but obedience
to God's commandments in a life conformed to the example of Christ; this
confirms our knowledge of Him and is the love of God . . . perfected. Disparity
between moral life and the commandments proves improper belief.
[2] 1 John 2:7-11 - The author expresses
the continuity and freshness of mutual charity in Christian experience. Through
Christ the commandment of love has become the light defeating the darkness of
evil in a new age. All hatred as darkness is incompatible with the light and
Christian life. Note also the characteristic Johannine polemic in which a
positive assertion is emphasized by the negative statement of its opposite.
[3] 1 John 2:8 - Which holds true in him
and among you: literally, "a thing that holds true in him and in
you."
[4] Luke 2:22-40 - The presentation of
Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful
observers of the law of the Lord (Luke 2:23-24, 39), the law of Moses, that is. In this respect, they are
described in a fashion similar to the parents of John (Luke 1:6) and Simeon (Luke 2:25) and Anna (Luke 2:36-37).
[5] Luke 2:25 - Awaiting the consolation
of Israel: Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were
awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of
faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the
restoration of God's rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to
fulfillment.
[6] Luke 2:35 - (And you yourself a sword
will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to
the role of Jesus (34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged
by her Son who describes true blessedness as "hearing the word of God and
observing it" (Luke 11:27-28 and Luke 8:20-21).
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Dear Humanity,
I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.
And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.
Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.