The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

“Nativity”
by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini,
1488-94

(Saint Sylvester I, Pope)

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Sylvester I

Readings for the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 John 2:18-21

Children, it is the last hour;

and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,

so now many antichrists have appeared.

Thus we know this is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;

if they had been, they would have remained with us.

Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.

But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,

and you all have knowledge.

I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-21

After telling his community that they were armed by their knowledge of Christ against evil, the Apostle now tells them that he hour is near.  Christ has died and is risen and the second coming must be approaching.  He warns them to be alert and watch out for the antichrist (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John.  In Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the same person(s) is designated “lawless one”.)  This group of “Antichrists” mentioned by the Biblical Authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching falsely about Jesus.

St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically leave the faith community, holding false premises.  He then tells those who are faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2, 11-12, 13

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;

announce his salvation, day after day.

R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.

R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

The LORD comes,

he comes to rule the earth.

He shall rule the world with justice

and the peoples with his constancy.

R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

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Commentary on Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13

This song of praise exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation. The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice. In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.

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Gospel: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light,

but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,

and the world came to be through him,

but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,

but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God,

to those who believe in his name,

who were born not by natural generation

nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision

but of God.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,

full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,

“This was he of whom I said,

‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me

because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received,

grace in place of grace,

because while the law was given through Moses,

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.

The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,

has revealed him.

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Commentary on Jn 1:1-18

The introduction of St. John’s Gospel is also used in the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord (Cycle A).  It first provides the description of the relationship of God and Jesus who is the Logos – or word of God. The Word is light to the world and all things are subordinate to the Word because they were created by and through the Word.

St. John then introduces John the Baptist as one who came to testify to the light (now equivocated above with the Word). His message, like that of Jesus was not accepted by the very people created by the Lord. He goes on to say that those who accept Christ are adopted by God.

St. John then makes his own profession as he speaks of the incarnation of the eternal as “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” His divinity is once more established as he says “…we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son”. This was the message St. John tells us he was sent to bring. He then reestablishes himself as messenger and servant of the one who sent him, Jesus. He says that while Moses brought the Law, Christ came and revealed God himself.

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Reflection:

We are once more awed by the opening phrases of St. John’s Gospel as he tells us; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Even as we reflect on the profound implications of these words we are struck by the contrast in tone of the Evangelist’s First Letter that was our first reading.

There is something important in that first reading, something that is central to our belief in the Word.  If we truly believe in the truth, that “In the Beginning” (before time, before creation) Christ existed in the Father and with the Father, “…the Word was with God, and the Word was God”; if we believe this there is a transformation within us.  That transformation is accomplished in us by God at our Baptism and sealed in us at our Confirmation.  If some later event occurs that drives us away from God; if some antichrist or false teacher places a wedge between us and God, that change of character is still there.

In the Detroit, Michigan area a year ago a 15 year old boy was in jail for shooting and killing a police officer.  They are treating him as an adult.  As the image of this young man was shown on the TV screen sitting in the court room, we could not help but wonder where had he been twisted?  At what point had those entrusted with the light of faith failed to protect him from those who had taught him to disrespect civil authority, that it violence was an acceptable path?

While St. John is speaking to his congregation about a different sort of situation (he speaks of those converted but not baptized who were, in a sense, shopping for something to believe in).  When they feel away from the Christian Community and began persecuting the Christians, some of the faithful wondered if God’s saving hand had left them.  In our day and age we see the same kind of thing from time to time as aspirants, desperate to find something to believe in “explore” the faith.  But we know that those that leave, who reject the faith, often find it either too hard, or requiring them to change their lifestyles, attitudes, or secular views more than they are willing.

Belief in the Logos – the Word made flesh and all he stands for is hard.  Belief, true belief requires us to act in certain ways and often respond with counterintuitive actions; not in our best interests but out of love.  In this upcoming year, let us pledge to become more in tune with the Word, who was and is.  Let us work diligently to help the world become a better place where young people (and old) will not be left to the false teachers and antichrists of our day.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture used today is “Nativity” by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini, 1488-94

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL).  This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.