Daily Readings - Sat Jan 09 2021
1 John
14And this is the confidence which we have toward God: that no matter what we shall request, in accord with his will, he hears us15And we know that he hears us, no matter what we request; so we know that we can obtain the things that we request of him16Anyone who realizes that his brother has sinned, with a sin that is not unto death, let him pray, and life shall be given to him who has sinned not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death. I am not saying that anyone should ask on behalf of that sin17All that is iniquity is sin. But there is a sin unto death18We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin. Instead, rebirth in God preserves him, and the evil one cannot touch him19We know that we are of God, and that the entire world is established in wickedness20And we know that the Son of God has arrived, and that he has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God, and so that we may remain in his true Son. This is the true God, and this is Eternal Life21Little sons, keep yourselves from false worship. Amen
John
22After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. And he was living there with them and baptizing23Now John was also baptizing, at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water in that place. And they were arriving and being baptized24For John had not yet been cast into prison25Then a dispute occurred between the disciples of John and the Jews, about purification26And they went to John and said to him: "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, about whom you offered testimony: behold, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.27John responded and said: "A man is not able to receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven28You yourselves offer testimony for me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but that I have been sent before him29He who holds the bride is the groom. But the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to Him, rejoices joyfully at the voice of the groom. And so, this, my joy, has been fulfilled30He must increase, while I must decrease
Sermon
In today’s readings, we explore themes of trust, humility, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes confidence in prayer, urging us to pray for others, especially those who sin, trusting that God hears us when our requests align with His will. It distinguishes between sin that leads to death and other sins, reassuring us of God’s protection from evil. The second reading from John’s Gospel depicts John the Baptist’s humble acknowledgment of his role as a precursor to Jesus, illustrating that true greatness lies in recognizing one’s place in God’s plan.
Both readings highlight the importance of aligning our wills with God’s. John’s epistle encourages us to trust in God’s providence through prayer, while John the Baptist’s humility teaches us to embrace our roles without envy. Their contexts—John’s reassurance to early Christians and the transition from John’s ministry to Jesus’—remind us that our confidence and humility are rooted in God’s grace and our acceptance of His timing and purpose.
In daily life, these readings call us to pray with confidence, trusting in God’s will, and to humbly accept our roles, pointing others to Christ. The moral lesson is clear: cultivate humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us pray with faith, support each other in our spiritual journeys, and find joy in fulfilling our unique roles, knowing that true fulfillment comes from aligning our lives with God’s will.