Tuesday after Rorate coeli, the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 22, 2020 by under
Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7 (NKJV)
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Devotion
In his first Epistle St. John tells us that the One who was from the beginning, that is, the Lord God, is the same person who they had looked upon and handled. Yesterday was the Festival of St. Thomas, where we are reminded of his doubt that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, and that he would not believe unless he could put his fingers into the wounds of our Lord Jesus. St. John tells us that that is exactly what all the Apostles did. After His resurrection from the dead, they looked upon and touched the risen Lord Jesus, even as they did prior to His death.
This is why the Lord Jesus has come into the world and taken upon Himself our flesh, so that He might bring us out of death into life; that He might take us out of darkness into light. He has come down to take upon Himself our flesh so that we might have life and light, and be freed from the bonds of sin, death, and the power of the devil. St. John says that “God is light and in Him is no darkness.” He removes the darkness from us and fills us with light and life when through faith in Him we are united in fellowship with Him. Indeed, the whole body of the Church, all of us who cling to Him in faith, are united in one fellowship. In this Church we look upon and touch our Lord through the means of grace.
Prayer: Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come and help us with Thy great might, that by Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished through Thy mercy and satisfaction; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
