Daily Readings - Fri Jan 10 2020

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 encounter profound truths about faith and compassion. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It highlights the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine nature of Christ. The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassion as He heals a leper, demonstrating His divine power and mercy, followed by His retreat into prayer for spiritual renewal. These passages remind us that faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep trust in God's promises, leading to eternal life. Just as the leper trusted Jesus for healing, we must trust God in our trials. The healings and teachings of Jesus call us to live with compassion and humility, reflecting His love in our actions. After healing, Jesus withdrew to pray, showing the importance of prayer in maintaining a strong spiritual life. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith as a living trust in God, seeking Him in prayer and emulating His compassion. May we, like the leper, approach Jesus with humility and trust, and may our actions reflect the love and mercy He has shown us. Through faith and prayer, we find the strength to overcome the world and live in the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ.