Saturday 7 January
St Raymond of Peñafort (c.1175 - 1275) First reading - 1 John 3:22-4:6 “This is how we can tell the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.” How can we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood? We can distinguish between when we say that we believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ and we don’t love one another. This is the spirit of falsehood. But when we believe in Jesus Christ and when we love one another, that is the spirit of truth. Also it's vice versa; if we don’t believe in Jesus Christ and just we love each other this is spirit of error because your love to each other is superficial and attached to this world. But if our love to each other is based on our belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God, we have the spirit of truth. Because our love to one another is a participation in the life of God as we love one another as the Son of God told us. We believe in Jesus Christ; we follow Him, and we love each other. When one element in this is missing, we fall into error. Let’s reflect: Are our belief in Jesus Christ and our love to one another are connected?
Friday 6 January
The Epiphany of the Lord First reading - Isaiah 60:1-6 “Lift up your eyes and look round:”. The glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples. With incarnation, the salvation is there. The light is there. Though the night still covers the earth and darkness the people. The visit of Magi are the sign that the Savior is not only for the elected people but to the entire world. The birth of Jesus Christ transforms the concept of elected people to the entire people of the world. The world is redeemed by Jesus Christ. But many times, we have the question because we see only the night that still covers the earth and darkness. We don’t lift up our and look round. The Word of God is asking two moments, to rise above the human level, “lift up your eyes”. It’s easy to see things in a human level and to see in a depressive way. But when you look things in a divine way, the realities appear different. Beyond the night that still covers the earth and darkness the people, you will see the glory of the Lord that is rising. Let’s reflect: can I see beyond the darkness the glory of the Lord?
Thursday 5 January
First reading - 1 John 3:11-21 “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence”. This is so clear. The love in words to love in action. St. John is using two words: real and active. Our love towards others should be real and active. Real because it should be concrete, something the other person needs or desires, something relevant. It’s not about doing something good to the other person which I like but something relevant to the other. Then it should be active. Our help or our love can never be something inactive. It should be something which continues, which remains to exist. Love in action can never be inactive because it’s alive, it continues to be there. To do something out of love which is not active is easy. But a love that continues is something challenging. It’s a commitment, not just an action. Let’s reflect: My love to others, is it relevant and a commitment or just is it what I like and an any action?