5th day within the Octave of Christmas, December 29, 2023
1 Jn 2:3-11, Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35
At some point in our lives, we all experience a time of darkness or blindness to the truth. It does not matter how it happened, or what brought us to that point, but pretty much, we all felt like we were in the dark. Saint John calls us out today to love our brother, for if we hate our brother, we are in the dark, and we have no idea where we are going. I like that analogy because it really highlights the fact that we have forgotten the truth. We have left behind our conscience and have allowed ourselves to be swayed into the dark, a place where no matter what we do, we will have a hard time coming out of it; almost a downward spiral if we are not careful. But John also tells us, “Whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.” In more modern terms, we must, “Walk the Talk” of being a Christian.
Mary and Joseph, being devout Jews, were “walking the talk.” They knew what they had to do to be good Jews. They did not have to go to Jerusalem for Jesus to be presented. They could have done it in the local Jewish temple, yet, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, they felt compelled to go to the temple in Jerusalem. The scriptures also tell us they did it according to the Law; something very good Jews, those walking in the light, would do. There, they met Simeon, who was also told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. Once Simeon saw Jesus, he proclaimed Jesus is the light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and glory for all of Israel. Jesus, the true light for all.
If we are still struggling with being in the dark today, let us change our thoughts. On this Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave, we need to proclaim, “I have seen the Light, and the Light is Jesus, the Christ the Lord. Let us walk out of the darkness, and proclaim like Simeon, “I have seen the Lord, and He is here. Now we too, can go in peace, be in the light, and let nothing cause us to be in the dark again.
Saint James Catholic Church 