Daily Readings - Tue Jan 02 2024
1 John
22Who is a liar, other than he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son23No one who denies the Son also has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son, also has the Father24As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you, too, shall abide in the Son and in the Father25And this is the Promise, which he himself has promised to us: Eternal Life26I have written these things to you, because of those who would seduce you27But as for you, let the Anointing that you have received from him abide in you. And so, you have no need of anyone to teach you. For his Anointing teaches you about everything, and it is the truth, and it is not a lie. And just as his Anointing has taught you, abide in him28And now, little sons, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have faith, and we may not be confounded by him at his advent
John
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, "Who are you?20And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: "I am not the Christ.21And they questioned him: "Then what are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.22Therefore, they said to him: "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?23He said, "I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.24And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees25And they questioned him and said to him, "Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?26John answered them by saying: "I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know27The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.28These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about identity and humility. The First Reading from 1 John warns against denying Jesus as the Christ, labeling such denial as Antichrist. It urges believers to remain steadfast in the teachings of Jesus, promising eternal life and emphasizing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from John presents John the Baptist, who humbly clarifies his role, not as the Messiah, but as a preparer of the way for the Lord. He baptizes with water, yet acknowledges the presence of a greater figure, Jesus, who is among them.
These readings are set in contexts of clarification and testimony. John the Baptist's humility in the Gospel reflects his understanding of his role in God's plan, while 1 John addresses a community facing false teachings, urging them to hold fast to their faith. Both readings underscore the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and recognizing one's place in the divine scheme.
In our daily lives, these teachings remind us to remain grounded in our faith amidst confusion and to approach life with humility. Just as John the Baptist recognized his role, we too should acknowledge our place, trusting in God's plan. The moral lesson here is the importance of humility and faithfulness, encouraging us to stay true to our beliefs and trust in divine guidance.