Key:
What these scriptures tell us about God
What these scriptures tell us to do
What these scriptures tell us not to do
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Reading 1 1 JN 1:5—2:2
Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The principles described here parallel those laid out in 1 Kings 8:46-50, Proverbs 28:13, and the other scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles--Confessing Sin. See also A good confession is like restarting your computer and Confession also seems to be a lot like composting.
Responsorial Psalm PS 124:2-3, 4-5, 7CD-8
R. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Had not the LORD been with us—when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive, when their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Had not the LORD been with us—when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive, when their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Alleluia See Te Deum
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 2:13-18
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.
Joseph obeyed with alacrity, and kept obeying over a significant period of time.
God had a dual purpose for this flight to Egypt: to protect the Holy Family and to fulfill prophecy. Yet another example of His accomplishing things on multiple levels.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious.He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
Herod’s response looks a lot like Sirach 1:22: “the rage of the wicked cannot put him in the right.” (New Jerusalem Bible). For all his anger he still failed to eliminate the Christ. That outcome is not surprising, and not just because he was trying to thwart God’s plan, but also because anger rarely results in good outcomes. See the scriptures collected in Wisdom Principles--Dealing with Anger
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