So let's talk about today's readings 12/29/09

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cheeto1

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December 29, 2009

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:3-11
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to 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,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked. 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.
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.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
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.

Responsorial Psalm
96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel

Lk 2:22-35 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,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
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.
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.
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.
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,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
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
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
 
“Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar”
– Hmm. It seems like it said the exact opposite in yesterday’s first reading:
“If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves”. In fact, in my own
personal missal for yesterday, it even went so far as to say “To say we have
never sinned is to call God a liar”. (1John 1:5) Why the contradiction one
day after the other? And why the strong language (“liar”)?

“Sing to the LORD a new song”
– This line of this psalm has struck me every time I heard it this year. It really
makes me want to sing a new song. But how do you get a new song unless
God gives you one? And supposing it doesn’t really mean a song, but
something else, like maybe an attitude or a way of acting or doing things?

"so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
– This last line of today’s gospel is so intriguing. What are those secret thoughts
that have now been revealed? I am curious to know, but yet I take great
comfort that Simeon’s words are now ours too ““Lord, now let your servant go
in peace…my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight
of every people”

Today is the day of St. Thomas Beckett

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:
 
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