Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 6, 2024
First Reading: 1 John 5.5-13
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
Psalm 147
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, because the psalm is good. Delightful and beautiful praise shall be for our God2The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel3He heals the contrite of heart, and he binds up their sorrows4He numbers the multitude of the stars, and he calls them all by their names5Great is our Lord, and great is his virtue. And of his wisdom, there is no number6The Lord lifts up the meek, but he brings down the sinner, even to the ground7Sing before the Lord with confession. Play psalms to our God on a stringed instrument8He covers heaven with clouds, and he prepares rain for the earth. He produces grass on the mountains and herbs for the service of men9He gives their food to beasts of burden and to young ravens that call upon him10He will not have good will for the strength of the horse, nor will he be well pleased with the legs of a man11The Lord is well pleased with those who fear him and with those who hope in his mercy12Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion13For he has reinforced the bars of your gates. He has blessed your sons within you14He has stationed peace at your borders, and he has satisfied you with the fat of the grain15He sends forth his eloquence to the earth. His word runs swiftly16He provides snow like wool. He strews clouds like ashes17He sends his ice crystals like morsels. Who can stand firm before the face of his cold18He will send forth his word, and it will melt them. His Spirit will breathe out, and the waters will flow19He announces his word to Jacob, his justices and his judgments to Israel20He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia
Gospel: Mark 1.4-5, 7-11
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, the testimony of God, and the transformative power of baptism. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the foundation of our faith. John emphasizes that Jesus came not just with water, symbolizing purification, but also with blood, signifying His sacrifice for humanity. The testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood all point to the truth of God’s love and the gift of eternal life through His Son. John also warns that to reject this testimony is to reject God Himself, for faith in Jesus is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, abiding trust that shapes our very lives.
In the Gospel, Mark describes the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This event is a pivotal moment in the life of Christ, as it marks the beginning of His public ministry. The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the voice from heaven declaring Jesus as the beloved Son affirm His divine identity. This passage reminds us that baptism is more than a ritual; it is a sacrament that unites us to Christ and fills us with the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was anointed for His mission, we too are called to live out our baptismal identity, bearing witness to God’s love in the world.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and how we live it out. Do we truly believe in the power of Christ’s sacrifice and the gift of eternal life? Are we living as children of God, reflecting His love and truth in our daily lives? Let us draw strength from the testimony of God and the grace of baptism, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our journey of faith. May we, like Jesus, be faithful witnesses to the Gospel, bringing light and hope to a world in need.