Confidence Care and Community

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today implore us to maintain confidence as followers of Christ through continued care and compassion for all people in our community.

Care and Justice

The Reading from the First Letter of John urges confidence before God and Testing the Spirits.

 

* [3:19–24] Living a life of faith in Jesus and of Christian love assures us of abiding in God no matter what our feelings may at times tell us. Our obedience gives us confidence in prayer and trust in God’s judgment. This obedience includes our belief in Christ and love for one another. (1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [4:1–6] Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.

* [4:3] Does not acknowledge Jesus: some ancient manuscripts add “Christ” and/or “to have come in the flesh” (cf. 1 Jn 4:2), and others read “every spirit that annuls (or severs) Jesus.” (1 John, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 2 proclaims the Israelite king as the earthly representative of God.

* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms. PSALM 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the Beginning of the Galilean Ministry with Jesus Ministering to a Great Multitude.

* [4:12–17] Isaiah’s prophecy of the light rising upon Zebulun and Naphtali (Is 8:22–9:1) is fulfilled in Jesus’ residence at Capernaum. The territory of these two tribes was the first to be devastated (733–32 B.C.) at the time of the Assyrian invasion. In order to accommodate Jesus’ move to Capernaum to the prophecy, Matthew speaks of that town as being “in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (Mt 4:13), whereas it was only in the territory of the latter, and he understands the sea of the prophecy, the Mediterranean, as the sea of Galilee.

* [4:17] At the beginning of his preaching Jesus takes up the words of John the Baptist (Mt 3:2) although with a different meaning; in his ministry the kingdom of heaven has already begun to be present (Mt 12:28).

* [4:23–25] This summary of Jesus’ ministry concludes the narrative part of the first book of Matthew’s gospel (Mt 3–4). The activities of his ministry are teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing; cf. Mt 9:35.

* [4:23] Their synagogues: Matthew usually designates the Jewish synagogues as their synagogue(s) (Mt 9:35; 10:17; 12:9; 13:54) or, in address to Jews, your synagogues (Mt 23:34), an indication that he wrote after the break between church and synagogue.

* [4:24] Syria: the Roman province to which Palestine belonged.

* [4:25] The Decapolis: a federation of Greek cities in Palestine, originally ten in number, all but one east of the Jordan. (Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth shares concern about the hungry, the homeless, and victims of inhumane immigration raids in the U.S., or the millions of people throughout the world in refugee camps. She asks:

“Does God love those of us born in safe and comfortable circumstances more than such people? The “prosperity Gospel” suggests that he does, but that seems like a perversion of a faith that warns of the difficulty of the rich entering heaven. So how do we live today’s reading?”

First, God doesn’t do terrible things to people. Other people do. And those of us who count ourselves among the relatively comfortable minority of earth’s people can’t just congratulate ourselves for getting the prayer formula right. Instead, we need to understand that Jesus answers desperate prayers for help THROUGH US. 

              It can be tempting to despair about making an impact because of the sheer scope of horrors we see daily. We likely feel powerless. But if we take the command to love as a call to action, we’ll find ways to send out “ripples of hope” as Robert Kennedy told the people of South Africa during Apartheid. 

              Our ripples may be as small as calling on public officials to protect the human dignity of local immigrants or volunteering for groups like the parish St. Vincent de Paul Societies. However, if millions of us try to send out even a ripple of hope or two a week, we will create a mighty wave that mobilizes the power of love. (Wirth, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The true light of revelation to the Gentiles,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

"The Evangelist commemorated in this passage the prophet's words: 'Beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light' (Matthew 4:15-16) In what darkness? Certainly in the profound error of ignorance. What great light did they see? The light concerning which it is written: 'He was the true light that illumines everyone who comes into this world' (John 1:9) This was the light about which the just man Simeon in the Gospel declared, 'A light of revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel' (Luke 2:32). That light had arisen according to what David had announced, saying, 'A light has arisen in the darkness to the upright of heart' (Psalm 112:4).

"Also, Isaiah demonstrated that light about to come for the enlightenment of the church when he said, 'Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you' (Isaiah 60:1). Concerning that light also Daniel noted, 'It reveals the profound and hidden things, knowing those things which are in darkness and the light is with it' (Daniel 2:22), that is, the Son with the Father, for even as the Father is light, so too is the Son light. And David also speaks in the psalm: 'In your light shall we see light' (Psalm 36:9), for the Father is seen in the Son, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel: 'Who sees me, sees the Father' (John 14:9) From the true light, indeed, the true light proceeded, and from the invisible the visible. "He is the image of the invisible God," as the apostle notes (Colossians 1:15)." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 15.1) [Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 comments that when Jesus’ light shines on us, it shows us that the darkness was just an emptiness in our hearts. It reveals that our sadness is not a “thing,” but a lack of joy and trust in the Lord. And it reveals that sin arises only because of an absence of Jesus’ goodness.

In prayer today, picture Jesus going “around all of Galilee” in your heart (Matthew 4:23). Welcome him into just one area of your life that is in darkness—a wound from a broken relationship, a fear or worry that is keeping you bound up, or a pattern of sin that has you trapped in guilt or shame. Ask him to shine his light on that area. Let the brilliance of his love and the warmth of his mercy dispel the darkness and bring you healing. Even if it’s just a matter of taking the next good step into the light, welcome him in and let him shine in you.

“Come, Lord, and let the radiance of your light cast out the darkness in my heart!” (Meditation on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 1 John 3 we hear of the contrast with the Gospel of John that offers the theme that following Jesus is keeping the one necessary commandment. The First Letter of John insists on keeping the traditional Commandments to combat Docetism, an ancient heresy that says Jesus was not fully human. Greeks looked at God as Purely Spiritual and could not take on humanity. Matthew quotes the Hebrew Testament about the land that would see a great light! Why Galilee? Jesus comes from Nazareth, a mixed population with lots of Gentiles and now the Messiah! Friar Jude suggests “The Kingdom of Heaven” is a phrase used by a converted pharisee in place of “Kingdom Of God” and Jesus cures in the Decapolis, a pagan territory, to underline Jesus has come for the Gentiles and the Jews.

Brian McLaren shares that in 2026, CAC meditations will return to this ancient text (the Bible) with open hearts and new eyes, exploring how it might again speak good news to a fractured world. 

Let me mention three of those new and fresh ways. 

First, we won’t read the Bible as if it were a divinely dictated book that descended out of heaven on a parachute. Instead, we will be reading the Bible as a set of precious literary artifacts that emerge in the unfolding story of humanity. We will take seriously the historical, social, ecological, economic, and political context of the Bible, and we will dig deep for needed ancient wisdom to help us today.  

Second, we won’t read the Bible as if it were a manual to help people dominate and exploit the earth and other people. It certainly has been and is being used in that way, but we will instead explore the Bible for inspiration—for creative and nonviolent resistance to that kind of domination and exploitation.  

And third, we won’t read the Bible as if it were an evacuation plan, preparing us to give up on the earth and be beamed up to heaven. Instead, we will explore the Bible as a prompt for both deep contemplation and for deep, loving action. (McLaren, n.d.)

We ponder the difficulties of first Christians and celebrate the power of the Spirit to inspire their mission to be witnesses to the fullness of life in the Mystical Body of Christ.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4?12 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Finding Good News in the Bible. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/finding-good-news-in-the-bible/ 

Meditation on Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/05/1473666/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?22 

 

1 John, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/4  

 

Psalms. PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?7 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). From Darkness and Death to Light and Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-5-2026 

Wisdom and Truth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the end of year reflection on our journey and challenge us to represent the Wisdom of love, faith, and truth to our community in the New Year.

Word and Vocation

The Reading from the First Letter of John warns of Antichrists in our environment.

* [2:18] It is the last hour: literally, “a last hour,” the period between the death and resurrection of Christ and his second coming. The antichrist: opponent or adversary of Christ; the term appears only in 1 John–2 John, but “pseudochrists” (translated “false messiahs”) in Mt 24:24 and Mk 13:22, and Paul’s “lawless one” in 2 Thes 2:3, are similar figures. Many antichrists: Matthew, Mark, and Revelation seem to indicate a collectivity of persons, here related to the false teachers.

* [2:19] Not really of our number: the apostate teachers only proved their lack of faith by leaving the community.

* [2:20] The anointing that comes from the holy one: this anointing is in the Old Testament sense of receiving the Spirit of God. The holy one probably refers to Christ. True knowledge is the gift of the Spirit (cf. Is 11:2), and the function of the Spirit is to lead Christians to the truth (Jn 14:17, 26; 16:13).

* [2:22–23] Certain gnostics denied that the earthly Jesus was the Christ; to deny knowledge of the Son is to deny the Father, since only through the Son has God been fully revealed (Jn 1:18; 14:8–9). (1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 declares even inanimate creation is to offer praise to God.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Reading from the Gospel of John is a prologue states the main themes of the gospel: life, light, truth, the world, testimony, and the preexistence of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Logos, who reveals God the Father.

* [1:1–18] The prologue states the main themes of the gospel: life, light, truth, the world, testimony, and the preexistence of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Logos, who reveals God the Father. In origin, it was probably an early Christian hymn. Its closest parallel is in other christological hymns, Col 1:15–20 and Phil 2:6–11. Its core (Jn 1:1–5, 10–11, 14) is poetic in structure, with short phrases linked by “staircase parallelism,” in which the last word of one phrase becomes the first word of the next. Prose inserts (at least Jn 1:6–8, 15) deal with John the Baptist.

* [1:1] In the beginning: also the first words of the Old Testament (Gn 1:1). Was: this verb is used three times with different meanings in this verse: existence, relationship, and predication. The Word (Greek logos): this term combines God’s dynamic, creative word (Genesis), personified preexistent Wisdom as the instrument of God’s creative activity (Proverbs), and the ultimate intelligibility of reality (Hellenistic philosophy). With God: the Greek preposition here connotes communication with another. Was God: lack of a definite article with “God” in Greek signifies predication rather than identification.

* [1:3] What came to be: while the oldest manuscripts have no punctuation here, the corrector of Bodmer Papyrus P75, some manuscripts, and the Ante-Nicene Fathers take this phrase with what follows, as staircase parallelism. Connection with Jn 1:3 reflects fourth-century anti-Arianism.

* [1:5] The ethical dualism of light and darkness is paralleled in intertestamental literature and in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overcome: “comprehend” is another possible translation, but cf. Jn 12:35; Wis 7:29–30.

* [1:6] John was sent just as Jesus was “sent” (Jn 4:34) in divine mission. Other references to John the Baptist in this gospel emphasize the differences between them and John’s subordinate role.

* [1:7] Testimony: the testimony theme of John is introduced, which portrays Jesus as if on trial throughout his ministry. All testify to Jesus: John the Baptist, the Samaritan woman, scripture, his works, the crowds, the Spirit, and his disciples.

* [1:11] What was his own…his own people: first a neuter, literally, “his own property/possession” (probably = Israel), then a masculine, “his own people” (the Israelites).

* [1:13] Believers in Jesus become children of God not through any of the three natural causes mentioned but through God who is the immediate cause of the new spiritual life. Were born: the Greek verb can mean “begotten” (by a male) or “born” (from a female or of parents). The variant “he who was begotten,” asserting Jesus’ virginal conception, is weakly attested in Old Latin and Syriac versions.

* [1:14] Flesh: the whole person, used probably against docetic tendencies (cf. 1 Jn 4:2; 2 Jn 7). Made his dwelling: literally, “pitched his tent/tabernacle.” Cf. the tabernacle or tent of meeting that was the place of God’s presence among his people (Ex 25:8–9). The incarnate Word is the new mode of God’s presence among his people. The Greek verb has the same consonants as the Aramaic word for God’s presence (Shekinah). Glory: God’s visible manifestation of majesty in power, which once filled the tabernacle (Ex 40:34) and the temple (1 Kgs 8:10–11, 27), is now centered in Jesus. Only Son: Greek, monogenēs, but see note on Jn 1:18. Grace and truth: these words may represent two Old Testament terms describing Yahweh in covenant relationship with Israel (cf. Ex 34:6), thus God’s “love” and “fidelity.” The Word shares Yahweh’s covenant qualities.

* [1:15] This verse, interrupting Jn 1:14, 16 seems drawn from Jn 1:30.

* [1:16] Grace in place of grace: replacement of the Old Covenant with the New (cf. Jn 1:17). Other possible translations are “grace upon grace” (accumulation) and “grace for grace” (correspondence).

* [1:18] The only Son, God: while the vast majority of later textual witnesses have another reading, “the Son, the only one” or “the only Son,” the translation above follows the best and earliest manuscripts, monogenēs theos, but takes the first term to mean not just “Only One” but to include a filial relationship with the Father, as at Lk 9:38 (“only child”) or Heb 11:17 (“only son”) and as translated at Jn 1:14. The Logos is thus “only Son” and God but not Father/God.

(John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford comments that the Magi left not knowing exactly where they were going (although they did have a star to guide them), how long they would be gone, or what dangers they would encounter. They committed their lives and best gifts to seeking and glorifying Christ. 

None of us knows what 2026 holds for us, but I encourage each of us to resolve to commit our lives to giving our best and our all to following our Lord, to serving Him by serving others, and to glorifying God in all that we do.

Loving God, thank you for the many times you blessed us this past year. Be especially close to those who are filled with pain, fear, want and loneliness. May our resolutions be to follow you, to serve you by serving others, and to use our best gifts – talents, skills, and resources – to glorify you. (Crawford, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The first-fruits of the Gospels,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"I think that John's Gospel, which you have enjoined us to examine to the best of our ability, is the first-fruits of the Gospels. It speaks of him whose descent is traced and begins from him who is without a genealogy... The greater and more perfect expressions concerning Jesus are reserved for the one who leaned on Jesus' breast. For none of the other Gospels manifested his divinity as fully as John when he presented him saying, 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:42), 'I am the way and the truth and the life' (John 14:6), 'I am the resurrection' (John 11:25), 'I am the door' (John 10:9), 'I am the good shepherd' (John 10:11)... We might dare say then that the Gospels are the first-fruits of all Scripture but that the first-fruits of the Gospels is that according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus' breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1.21-23) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 1:1-18 comments that our God is so generous to us! Like crashing waves, he floods us with one outpouring of grace after another. He offers us all that he has and all that he is—day after day, week after week, year after year. These waves of goodness are constantly washing over us, filling our hearts and helping us to become more like Jesus.

As you look toward the coming year, you can be sure that God will continue to pour out his grace upon you! He will remind you that he lives in you and will never leave. He will wash you clean and point your heart toward heaven. And in the riches of his grace, he will fill you with hope that one day, you will be with the Lord in paradise.

“Lord, I trust in your never-ending grace, today and always.” (Meditation on John 1:1-18, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the first reading from the Letter of John identifies the Anti Christ as those who oppose Christ, especially through Docetism. In Greek philosophy Incarnate God is not sensible. We have been anointed by the Spirit and live in life. In the Prologue to the Gospel, John has borrowed a useful hymn. The Word is a reference to The Word of God. In the Hebrew Testament, Wisdom was associated with God. The Word was “towards” as God is always drawing closer together. What a symbol this is for heaven; an eternal falling in love. The Prologue features Poetry of the Word and the Baptist who gives witness to the Word .The people decided not to accept Him The Word became flesh and the eternal Wisdom took on our reality and “pitched His tent among us, in Greek , a temporary living space. Jesus is “grace upon grace” with a few possible meanings. John phrases that we intend to receive one grace and then grace and truth "abounding in loving kindness (hesed) and truth (emet)." Friar Jude notes that through Jesus, as the fullness of grace, we no longer need various emissaries to communicate God’s will to us, now, Jesus is the only emissary we need.

Fr. Mike Schmitz concludes our journey through the Bible by reflecting on the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21. It is this profound promise that reassures us that Christ is the beginning and the end, the one who makes all things new, the one who wipes away every tear, the one who conquers death, and the only one who offers us everlasting life, a life without end. Today's readings are Revelation 21-22, Hebrews 11-13, and Proverbs 31:30-31.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, encourages us to find the wisdom revealed in the paradoxical nature of reality. It occurred to him that he has met so many people in the world who are already full of love and who really care for others. Maybe what we lack isn’t love but wisdom.

Jesus came to teach us the way of wisdom. He brought us a message that offers to liberate us from both the lies of the world and the lies lodged in ourselves. The words of the Gospels create an alternative consciousness, solid ground on which we can really stand, free from every social order and from every ideology. Jesus called this new foundation the reign of God, and he said it is something that takes place in this world and yet will never be completed in this world. This is where faith comes in. It’s so rare to find ourselves trusting—not in the systems and -isms of this world—but standing at a place where we offer our bit of salt, leaven, and light. Even then, we have no security that we’re really right. This means that we have to stand in an inconspicuous, mysterious place, a place where we’re not sure that we’re sure, where we are comfortable knowing that we do not know very much at all. (Rohr, n.d.)

The Word that is Life presents Wisdom and empowers our acts of loving kindness and truth that we hope will bear fruit in the New Year.

References

Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-31-2022 

John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?1 

Meditation on John 1:1-18. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/31/1462569/ 

1 John, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?18 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Wisdom for a New Year. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/wisdom-for-a-new-year/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt among Us. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 31, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/