Epiphany of the Lord

by Fr. Jess Ty  |  01/05/2025  |  Weekly Reflection

For the past week, Our Holy Mother, the Church gave us St. John’s letter on all first readings on weekday Masses to reflect on. After encountering Jesus, the light of the world, he wants us to see and teaches us how to live in the light. Just like the Magi in our Gospel, after encountering Jesus, they went home in another way.

St. John said, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Jesus, 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.” (1Jn.1:5-7).

It is only by encountering Jesus as light, who forgives our sins, that we can have fellowship with one another. Without knowing Him, and His Merciful love and forgiveness, we are scattered, there is no true communion nor unity. St. John continues, “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. If we say, we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” (1:8-10). Serpents are habitual liars, they follow the Father of Lies, the Deceiver from the beginning, the Ancient Serpent, they truly live in darkness.

“Beloved: the way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep His commandments. Whoever says, I know Him, but does not keep His Commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with Him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as He walked.” (1Jn. 2:3- 6). Jesus walked only to do what the Father’s will; He loved us to the end; He sacrificed Himself for our salvation. We are all also called to do the will of the Father and to sacrifice ourselves for our loved ones, for their salvation not for our comfort. BXVI said, we are called not for comfort but for greatness. To live for Jesus, to stand for the truth, to stand for what is right is to follow the Lord. We have to love one another. Jesus even commanded not to love only those who loves us, but to love our enemies. According to Chesterton, we have to love our friends and enemies, precisely because they are the same people. We are not yet in the light if we hate our neighbors.