圣诞节八日庆祝期第五日
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
读经一
恭读圣若望一书 2:3-11
亲爱的弟兄们：如果我们遵守天主的命令，由此便知道我们认识他。那说“我认识他”，而不遵守他命令的，是撒谎的人，在他内没有真理。但是，谁若遵守他的话，天主的爱在他内才得以圆满；由此我们也知道，我们是在他内。那说自己住在他内的，就应当照那一位所行的去行。
可爱的诸位，我给你们写的，不是一条新命令，而是你们从起初领受的旧命令：这旧命令就是你们所听的道理。另一方面说，我给你们写的也是一条新命令——就是在他和你们身上成为事实的——因为黑暗正在消逝，真光已在照耀。谁说自己在光中，而恼恨自己的弟兄，他至今仍是在黑暗中。凡爱自己弟兄的，就是存留在光中，对于他就没有任何绊脚石；但是恼恨自己弟兄的，就是在黑暗中，且在黑暗中行走，不知道自己往那里去，因为黑暗弄瞎了他的眼睛。
Reading 1
A reading from the First Letter of 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 going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
福音
恭读圣路加福音 2:22-35
按梅瑟的法律，一满了他们取洁的日期，玛利亚和若瑟便带着孩子上耶路撒冷去献给上主，就如上主的法律上所记载的：“凡开胎首生的男性，应祝圣于上主。”并该照上主法律上所吩咐的，献上祭物：一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽。那时，在耶路撒冷有一个人，名叫西默盎。这人正义虔诚，期待着以色列的安慰，而且圣神也在他身上。他曾蒙圣神启示：自己在未看见上主的受傅者以前，决见不到死亡。他因圣神的感动，进了圣殿；那时，抱着婴孩耶稣的父母正进来，要按着法律的惯例为他行礼。西默盎就双臂接过他来，赞美天主说：“主啊！现在可照你的话，放你的仆人平安去了！因为我亲眼看见了你的救援，即你在万民之前早准备好的：为作启示异邦的光明，你百姓以色列的荣耀。”
他的父亲和母亲就惊异他关于耶稣所说的这些话。西默盎祝福了他们，又向他的母亲玛利亚说：“看，这孩子已被立定，为使以色列中许多人跌倒和复起，并成为反对的记号——至于你，要有一把利剑刺透你的心灵——为叫许多人心中的思念显露出来。”
Gospel
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 2:22-35
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”