Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 29, 2025
- Dr. Kate Wiskus
- Dec 29, 2025
- 2 min read
Date: Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Scripture Text: 1 John 2:3-11
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.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is goingbecause the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Breaking the text open – background and summary:
The first reading for today is taken from the 1st Letter of John, a catholic/universal letter, rather than a letter to a specific community of believers. In the reading, John stresses Jesus’ own teaching, that the way others will know that a person is a follower of Jesus is by how that person keeps Jesus’ commandment, “love one another as I have loved you.”
Meditating on the text with personal questions:
Do I daily take Jesus’ command with me in my mind and heart as I encounter others along the way? Would my treatment of others tell them I believe in Jesus and am trying to follow Jesus?
Praying:
LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, we look to You in loving thanksgiving for your gift of self for love of the Father Almighty and love of each one of us. Send your Spirit to bring that love with its depth and with its strength so that I might seek to live my life as You command, loving others as You have loved us. Grant that our words and deeds will demonstrate the strength of your abiding and loving presence in our midst and within us and give glory to the Father Almighty. Amen.
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