Fifth Day in the Octave of the Nativity
Year C
Reading: 1 John 2:3-11
Responsorial Psalm: PS 96:1-3; 5-6
“Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!”
Gospel: Luke 2:22-35
1 John 2:9 – “Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness”
Saint John has an important message for us today in the first reading. We cannot have a full relationship with God if we live our lives denying our love to our friends and family. Even if we love our friends and family, and deny our love to a stranger, we are breaking God’s law.
Everyone and everything on the Earth was created by God. Consequently, if we hold a grudge, or attempt to hurt our neighbour in any way, we are really hurting our relationship with God. If we don’t show love to our neighbour, we are shunning the love of God.
What is important here is the meaning of the word ‘neighbour’. This is anyone with whom we come into contact. We must be able to show love in all our considerations of others. In doing this, we are showing our love of God himself.
As we go through our life, it is appropriate that we are reminded of this important message regularly, as otherwise the noise of our busy lives blocks our attention and we lose the opportunity to be closer to God and his grace.
Remember to love God with all your heart, and your neighbour as well.
Pray that we can see through our human pride today.
With thanks to Holy Name of Mary Parish, Hunters Hill, who have supplied these daily Advent and Christmas 2021 reflections from their publication Daily Inspirations of Faith: A Season of Prayer – Advent to Epiphany 2021-22.
