Daily Readings - Sun Jan 10 2021

¹All you who thirst, come to the waters. And you who have no money: hurry, buy and eat. Approach, buy wine and milk, without money and without barter²Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and expend your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen very closely to me, and eat what is good, and then your soul will be delighted by a full measure³Incline your ear and draw near to me. Listen, and your soul will live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, by the faithful mercies of David⁴Behold, I have presented him as a witness to the people, as a commander and instructor to the nations⁵Behold, you will call to a nation that you did not know. And nations that did not know you will rush to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For he has glorified you⁶Seek the Lord, while he is able to be found. Call upon him, while he is near⁷Let the impious one abandon his way, and the iniquitous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will take pity on him, and to our God, for he is great in forgiveness⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says the Lord⁹For just as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so also are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts¹⁰And in the same manner as rain and snow descend from heaven, and no longer return there, but soak the earth, and water it, and cause it to bloom and to provide seed to the sower and bread to the hungry¹¹so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it

1 John

Chapter 5

¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And everyone who loves God, who provides that birth, also loves him who has been born of God²In this way, we know that we love those born of God: when we love God and do his commandments³For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy⁴For all that is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith⁵Who 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 Son

Mark

Chapter 1

⁷And he preached, saying: "One stronger than me comes after me. I am not worthy to reach down and loosen the laces of his shoes⁸I have baptized you with water. Yet truly, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.⁹And it happened that, in those days, Jesus arrived from Nazareth of Galilee. And he was baptized by John in the Jordan¹⁰And immediately, upon ascending from the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit, like a dove, descending, and remaining with him¹¹And there was a voice from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound relationship between faith, trust, and the divine plan. The first reading from Isaiah offers a beautiful invitation to turn to God, emphasizing that His ways and thoughts are far greater than ours. Isaiah urges us to seek the Lord while He is near, promising that His word will accomplish its purpose, much like the rain and snow that nourish the earth. This reading reminds us of God’s generosity and the transformative power of His word in our lives. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by highlighting the victory of faith. John reminds us that everyone who believes in Jesus as the Son of God is born of God and overcomes the world. Love for God is not just a feeling but is expressed through keeping His commandments, which are not burdensome. John also emphasizes the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, affirming the truth of who Jesus is. This reading calls us to live out our faith with confidence and love, trusting in God’s testimony over the fleeting opinions of the world. In the Gospel, Mark describes the baptism of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit descends upon Him, and the Father declares His delight in His beloved Son. This passage reveals the profound truth of Jesus’ identity and mission. John the Baptist humbly acknowledges his role as a precursor, pointing to the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. This moment of revelation invites us to reflect on our own baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just as Jesus was affirmed by the Father, we too are beloved children of God, called to live out our faith with humility and trust. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in God’s plan, even when it seems beyond our understanding? Are we living out our faith with love and obedience to His commandments? Let us seek the Lord while He is near, allowing His word to nourish us and transform us. May we, like Jesus, be open to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, and may we humbly point others to the One who is the Truth. In doing so, we will find the victory that overcomes the world—the victory of faith, love, and trust in God.