Daily Readings - Sat Jan 02 2021
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 themes of truth, identity, and the call to remain faithful. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that denying Jesus as the Christ is a grave error, as it separates us from both the Father and the Son. John emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the teachings we have received from the beginning, for in doing so, we abide in the Son and the Father. He warns against false teachers who would lead us astray, assuring us that the anointing of the Holy Spirit within us is sufficient to guide us in truth.
The Gospel reading from John presents John the Baptist’s humble testimony. When questioned by the priests and Levites, John clearly states, “I am not the Christ,” and instead identifies himself as a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. His humility and clarity of purpose stand in contrast to the confusion and expectations of those who question him. John’s baptism is not an end in itself but a preparation for the One who is to come, the One whose sandals he is not worthy to untie.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own identity and purpose. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point others to Christ, not to seek glory for ourselves. In a world filled with competing voices and false promises, we must remain grounded in the truth of who Jesus is and what he has taught us. The Holy Spirit, the anointing we have received, equips us to discern truth from falsehood and to abide in Christ. Let us strive to live with humility, fidelity, and a commitment to the truth, so that when Christ appears, we may stand before him with confidence and not be confounded.