Daily Readings - Fri Jan 06 2023
1 John
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
Mark
4John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance, as a remission of sins5And there went out to him all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins7And 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 delve into the essence of faith and the divine affirmation of Jesus' identity. The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes that overcoming the world is rooted in believing Jesus is the Son of God. It highlights the unity of the Spirit, water, and blood as testimonies to this truth, reinforcing that eternal life is found in the Son. The Gospel from Mark vividly describes Jesus' baptism, where the heavens open, the Spirit descends as a dove, and a voice declares Jesus as the beloved Son. This scene underscores John's humility and the divine validation of Jesus' mission.
Contextually, 1 John was written to early Christians to fortify their faith amidst challenges, while Mark's account is an early narrative focusing on Jesus' actions and identity. Both readings converge on affirming Jesus' divine identity, with the First Reading providing theological depth and the Gospel offering a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our faith. Just as John recognized his role and humbly stepped aside, we too can acknowledge our limitations and trust in God's plan. Belief in Jesus should not be passive but transformative, guiding our actions and decisions. The example of John's humility teaches us to embrace our roles with grace, knowing that our strength lies in God.
As we reflect, let us remember that faith is both a gift and a choice. It is through faith that we receive eternal life, and it is through humility that we align ourselves with God's will. May we, like the early Christians, find strength in our belief and live with the assurance that we are beloved children of God, called to embody His love in our world.