Daily Readings - Thu Jan 03 2019
1 John
29If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.3And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.4Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.5You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.6No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
John
29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'31I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."32And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.33I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'34And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of our profound identity as children of God and the transformative power of Jesus Christ. The first reading from 1 John invites us to reflect on the boundless love of the Father, who has called us to be His sons and daughters. This divine adoption is not merely a title but a calling to live in holiness, for we are to become like Christ when He appears. The reading emphasizes that sin contradicts this divine calling, yet it is through Christ that our sins are taken away, enabling us to live a life free from sin and in union with Him.
The Gospel from John presents John the Baptist's profound declaration of Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This moment is pivotal, as it reveals Jesus' mission and identity. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus signifies His divine nature and His role as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This passage underscores the Trinitarian reality of God's love and redemption, where the Father sends the Son, and the Spirit rests upon Him, revealing Him as the Son of God.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both point to the heart of our faith: the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The first reading calls us to live out our identity as God's children through holiness, while the Gospel reveals the One who makes this possible. In our daily lives, let us embrace this identity with gratitude and strive to live in a way that reflects God's holiness. May we turn to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins, and may we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, who transforms us into the likeness of the Son. In this way, we fulfill our calling as children of God, living in hope and holiness.