Daily Readings - Thu Jan 02 2020
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 delve into the essence of faith and humility through the words of 1 John and the testimony of John the Baptist. The first reading from 1 John 2:22-28 emphasizes the crucial belief in Jesus as the Christ, warning against those who deny Him and thus deny the Father. It reassures us of the promise of eternal life and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, urging us to remain steadfast in our faith. The Gospel reading, John 1:19-28, presents John the Baptist, who humbly clarifies his role not as the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet, but as a voice preparing the way for the Lord. He baptizes with water, yet acknowledges the greater one coming after him, embodying humility and redirection of focus to Jesus.
Both readings highlight the centrality of Jesus Christ. 1 John underscores the necessity of orthodox belief, countering early heresies by affirming Jesus's divine and human nature. John's Gospel situates John the Baptist as a precursor, introducing Jesus to the world. Together, they illustrate the importance of recognizing and testifying to Jesus's identity, reinforcing the need for unwavering faith and humility.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to remain steadfast in our belief, trusting in the Holy Spirit's guidance. Like John the Baptist, we should humbly point others to Christ, avoiding self-aggrandizement. The moral lesson is clear: Jesus is the center of our faith, and our role is to reflect His light, stepping aside so others may encounter Him. Let us embrace this humility and steadfastness, ensuring our lives testify to the transformative power of knowing Jesus Christ.