Daily Readings - Sat Jan 07 2023
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
1And on the third day, a wedding was held in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there2Now Jesus was also invited to the wedding, with his disciples3And when the wine was failing, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine.4And Jesus said to her: "What is that to me and to you, woman? My hour has not yet arrived.5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you.6Now in that place, there were six stone water jars, for the purification ritual of the Jews, containing two or three measures each7Jesus said to them, "Fill the water jars with water." And they filled them to the very top8And Jesus said to them, "Now draw from it, and carry it to the chief steward of the feast." And they took it to him9Then, when the chief steward had tasted the water made into wine, since he did not know where it was from, for only the servants who had drawn the water knew, the chief steward called the groom10and he said to him: "Every man offers the good wine first, and then, when they have become inebriated, he offers what is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now.11This was the beginning of the signs that Jesus accomplished in Cana of Galilee, and it manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him12After this, he descended to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, but they did not remain there for many days
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about trust and transformation. The first reading from 1 John reminds us of the confidence we have in prayer, knowing that God hears us when we ask according to His will. It distinguishes between sins, reassuring us of God's protection and the eternal life offered through His Son. The Gospel from John tells the story of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus transforms water into wine, revealing His glory and the power of faith.
Both readings are set in contexts that highlight trust in God. 1 John was written to early Christians to strengthen their faith, while the wedding at Cana is an early sign in John's Gospel that showcases Jesus' divine nature. The common thread is the transformative power of faith—whether through prayer or through trusting in God's plan.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's plan and remain open to His transformative power. Just as Mary trusted Jesus at the wedding, we can have confidence that God hears our prayers and works in our lives. The moral lesson here is the importance of faith and trust. Let us approach prayer with confidence, knowing God's love and care, and allow Him to work through us, transforming our lives and the world around us.