Daily Readings - Thu Jan 02 2025
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 explore themes of identity, faith, and guidance. The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Christ, highlighting the inseparable relationship between the Father and the Son. John warns against false teachings and encourages believers to remain steadfast, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John features John the Baptist, who humbly clarifies his role as a precursor to Jesus, not the Messiah, and baptizes as a symbol of preparation for the coming Lord.
The context of 1 John is set amidst early Christian communities facing deception, where John reinforces the core belief in Jesus to maintain faith. In the Gospel, John the Baptist’s testimony to religious leaders underscores his role as a voice preparing the way for Jesus, directing attention away from himself to the true Messiah.
Both readings intertwine by focusing on the identity of Jesus and the steadfastness of faith. While 1 John addresses maintaining true faith despite false prophets, John the Baptist’s testimony in the Gospel exemplifies humility and redirection to Jesus. Together, they remind us of the importance of recognizing Christ’s presence and staying faithful.
In daily life, these readings inspire us to reflect Christ in our actions and words, just as John the Baptist pointed others to Jesus. The moral lesson is clear: remain faithful, open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and focused on eternal life through Jesus. Let us embody this faith, avoiding deception and staying true to our beliefs, just as John the Baptist and the early Christians did.