Daily Readings - Sat Jan 11 2025
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
22After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. And he was living there with them and baptizing23Now John was also baptizing, at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water in that place. And they were arriving and being baptized24For John had not yet been cast into prison25Then a dispute occurred between the disciples of John and the Jews, about purification26And they went to John and said to him: "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, about whom you offered testimony: behold, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.27John responded and said: "A man is not able to receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven28You yourselves offer testimony for me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but that I have been sent before him29He who holds the bride is the groom. But the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to Him, rejoices joyfully at the voice of the groom. And so, this, my joy, has been fulfilled30He must increase, while I must decrease
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of prayer, humility, and trust in God's plan. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the power of prayer, urging us to pray with confidence, knowing that when our requests align with God's will, He hears us. It also distinguishes between sins that lead to death and those that do not, reassuring us that prayer can bring life to those who sin, except in cases of mortal sin. The reading concludes with a warning against idolatry, reminding us to keep our focus on the true God.
The Gospel from John describes a scene where both Jesus and John the Baptist are baptizing. A dispute arises between John's disciples and the Jews about purification, leading John to humbly clarify his role. He acknowledges that he is not the Christ but the one sent before Him, using the analogy of the groom and his friend to illustrate that his joy is fulfilled as Jesus increases while he decreases.
These readings teach us about the importance of humility and trust in God's plan. Like John the Baptist, we must recognize our roles and let God's will guide us. In our daily lives, we should approach prayer with confidence, trusting that God hears us and acts according to His plan. Let us embrace humility, allowing God to increase in our lives as we decrease, just as John did. The moral lesson is clear: trust in God's will and practice humility, letting His light shine through us.