Daily Readings - Wed Jan 02 2019
1 John
22Who is a liar, other than he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son23No one who denies the Son also has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son, also has the Father24As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you, too, shall abide in the Son and in the Father25And this is the Promise, which he himself has promised to us: Eternal Life26I have written these things to you, because of those who would seduce you27But as for you, let the Anointing that you have received from him abide in you. And so, you have no need of anyone to teach you. For his Anointing teaches you about everything, and it is the truth, and it is not a lie. And just as his Anointing has taught you, abide in him28And now, little sons, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have faith, and we may not be confounded by him at his advent
John
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, "Who are you?20And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: "I am not the Christ.21And they questioned him: "Then what are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.22Therefore, they said to him: "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?23He said, "I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.24And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees25And they questioned him and said to him, "Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?26John answered them by saying: "I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know27The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.28These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the truth of Jesus Christ. It warns against those who would lead us astray and reminds us that our identity and eternal life are rooted in our relationship with the Father and the Son. The second reading from John's Gospel presents John the Baptist, who humbly clarifies his role as a precursor to Jesus, not the Messiah, but one who prepares the way for Him.
Both readings highlight the significance of truth and preparation. In 1 John, we are urged to hold fast to the teachings we have received, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God. In John's Gospel, John the Baptist exemplifies humility and clarity in his mission, pointing others to Jesus. These themes are interconnected, as staying grounded in truth prepares us to recognize and follow Jesus in our lives.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, avoiding false influences and staying humble. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, we too can create space in our hearts for Jesus to be present. By living with integrity and humility, we embody the truth of Christ, allowing His light to shine through us. Let us strive to stay true to our faith and humbly serve as beacons of Christ's love in the world.