Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

We can’t continue to sin and have fellowship with God. We can’t be uncontrite and walk in the light. We need to admit we are sinners and amend our ways. Trying to hide them from God is like Adam and Eve hiding from Him in the Garden of Eden. God can see through the leaves and see the naked truth within us. Thankfully, He is a forgiving and merciful God and wants us to be cleansed of our sins and return to His side. So let us cast aside the darkness within us and choose to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts, minds, and strengths.

What darkness lives within us? How can we cast out the darkness and return completely to the light? How can we cultivate our fellowship with God and all His children?

O Lord, let us live in the light of your fellowship and mercy.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Word of Life lived among us and showed us the way to live. He showed us how to be forgiving, compassionate, merciful, and loving. He gave us a model of faith, hope, and charity and an example of what it means to make our lives into testimonies to God’s Goodness. He offers us an illustration of what it means to proclaim the Truth and follow it without complaint. Last but not least, he showed us how to know, love, and serve God and His children in a spirit of fellowship.

Are we living our lives according to the examples Jesus gave us? How do we testify and proclaim the Good News? How do we live out our fellowship with God and His children?

O Lord, in you we find the only true and never-ending fellowship.

Amen.