READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the First Letter of John
1 Jn 2:18-21
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
Saturday the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
December 31, 2022
(Jn 1:1-18)
God’s Word for Us
Dear People of God,
In the Word of God today, God makes known to all mankind: The Word is God. God is the light of the world. The Word has existed from all eternity, and with just one word from the Word, all things, in heaven and on earth, were created. It is because of love for humanity that the Word has become a light to illuminate the way for people to walk. The Word is the true light, the light that will drive out the darkness, and drive out evil from people.
God wants everyone: To run to the light of the Word; for the light of the Word will lead man to true love, to perfect truth, and the light will drive out the darkness from the souls and bodies of mankind. The Word is the true light that came into the world to be with humanity. The Word became human like everyone else. It is because of love that the Word came, accompanies, and is with humanity in all places at all times.
Saint John is the light, he came to prepare the way for the Word to come into the world. The Word became a man like everyone else to accompany us and for John to be a witness of truth, that: The Word came into the world and was with humanity. No one has a sublime, and great love like God.
Only love in God can bring life and happiness to people. Those who run to the light of God will receive His teachings and instructions; for the Word is the image of God the Father who came into the world, to bring love from God the Father and be with mankind. What He teaches mankind, the very embodiment of the Word will be demonstrated by His words, His actions, and all of His being. This act of love, shown on the Cross, is that He sacrificed and died to atone for the sins of all mankind.
God invites man: Look to the love of Jesus Christ manifested on the Cross. It is this love that will drive out darkness, and drive out evil from people.
God is a God of light, a God of love. He does not bring death, and darkness to souls. He sacrificed Himself to die, in exchange for eternal life for man. For whoever wants to be happy, at peace, and have eternal life, run to the Word, the Word that dwells in the world. Open the door of your heart, open your heart to receive the Word into your heart. That Word manifested in today’s world is the Word of God and the Bread of Life.
Thanks Be to God. Amen.
