Daily Readings - Fri Jan 11 2019

⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God⁶This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth⁷For there are Three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. And these Three are One⁸And there are three who give testimony on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And these three are one⁹If we accept the testimony of men, then the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater: that he has testified about his Son¹⁰Whoever believes in the Son of God, holds the testimony of God within himself. Whoever does not believe in the Son, makes him a liar, because he does not believe in the testimony which God has testified about his Son¹¹And this is the testimony which God has given to us: Eternal Life. And this Life is in his Son¹²Whoever has the Son, has Life. Whoever does not have the Son, does not have Life¹³I am writing this to you, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God

Luke

Chapter 5

¹²And it happened that, while he was in a certain city, behold, there was a man full of leprosy who, upon seeing Jesus and falling to his face, petitioned him, saying: "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.¹³And extending his hand, he touched him, saying: "I am willing. Be cleansed." And at once, the leprosy departed from him¹⁴And he instructed him that he should tell no one, "But go, show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, just as Moses has commanded, as a testimony for them.¹⁵Yet word of him traveled around all the more. And great crowds came together, so that they might listen and be cured by him from their infirmities¹⁶And he withdrew into the desert and prayed

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between faith, testimony, and the transformative power of God’s love. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John highlights the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who together testify to the truth of God’s love. He also reminds us that eternal life is found in the Son, and those who believe in him already possess this life. The reading encourages us to trust in God’s testimony, which is greater than any human word, and to live with confidence in our faith. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid example of this faith in action. A man afflicted with leprosy approaches Jesus with humility and trust, acknowledging Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus, moved by compassion, touches the man and restores him to full health. This miracle is not just a physical healing but also a spiritual one, as it reveals Jesus’ divine authority and the power of faith. Jesus then instructs the man to present himself to the priest, not only to fulfill the legal requirements of his time but also as a public testimony to God’s work in his life. Despite Jesus’ request for silence, the man’s healing becomes known, drawing even more people to Jesus. These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and how we live it out. Like the leper, we are called to approach God with humility and trust, acknowledging our need for healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. When we experience God’s grace, we are compelled to share this gift with others, not through words alone but through the way we live. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in their testimony, our words and actions must also be united in bearing witness to God’s love. Let us, therefore, embrace the truth that eternal life is ours in Christ and live each day as a testament to the transformative power of faith.