Daily Readings - Sat Jan 08 2022
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 are invited to reflect on the nature of prayer, humility, and our relationship with God. The first reading from 1 John reminds us of the confidence we have in prayer when we ask according to God’s will. John emphasizes that God hears us and grants our requests when they align with His purpose. He also warns us about sin, distinguishing between sins that lead to death and those that do not, while reassuring us that the evil one cannot touch those reborn in God. The reading concludes with a call to remain faithful and avoid false worship.
The Gospel from John 3 shifts our focus to John the Baptist, who humbly acknowledges his role as a precursor to Jesus. When questioned about Jesus baptizing more people, John explains that his joy is fulfilled in seeing Jesus increase while he himself decreases. He reminds us that Jesus is the bridegroom, and we are merely friends of the bridegroom, rejoicing at His voice. John’s humility and willingness to step aside for Christ serve as a powerful example for us.
These readings remind us that our prayers must be rooted in humility and alignment with God’s will, not our own desires. Like John the Baptist, we are called to decrease so that Christ may increase in our lives. In a world often driven by self-promotion and competition, John’s example challenges us to embrace humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives reflect the truth of the Gospel, and may we always remember that our ultimate joy is found in knowing and remaining in the true Son of God, Jesus Christ.