28 Dec
Fri
Holy Innocents, martyrs
1 Jn. 1:5-2:2
Ps 123(124):2-3, 4-5, 7-8
Mt. 2:13-18
(Ps Wk IV)
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The First Letter of St John gives us three important statements about God, the first of which we hear today: "God is light". The other two are "God is just" and "God is love". These statements are not definitions of God for God is beyond all human definitions. Rather, like all such statements, whether about God or about Jesus, they tell us who and what God is for us. Using the words of the Psalmist, we may affirm that light, love and justice are ways in which "God is on our side" against our enemies.

We live in a world broken by sin, a world in which, as St John elsewhere affirms, people have preferred the darkness to the light (Jn 3:18). Thus, humanly speaking, it is not always apparent that God is on our side. The profundity of this truth is only available to the eyes of faith. The parents of the Holy Innocents must have felt abandoned by God, though their Jewish faith would have provided them with some light in the darkness of that time of evil.



Lord, in the midst of the injustices of this world, let our Christian lives be light in darkness and a source of hope and justice.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities.
Elaboration

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