Daily Readings - Mon Jan 07 2019
1 John
22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Matthew
12Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.13And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,14so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:15"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned."17From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."23And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of keeping God’s commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another. John writes that those who abide in God are recognizable by the Spirit he has given them, and he warns us to discern the spirits, for not every spirit is of God. This passage calls us to live in truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, for “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
The Gospel reading from Matthew illustrates Jesus’ ministry as a fulfillment of prophecy and a manifestation of God’s light in a world shrouded in darkness. After withdrawing to Galilee, Jesus begins to preach, teach, and heal, drawing people from all regions to himself. His actions demonstrate the kingdom of heaven drawing near, and his ministry is a testament to the power of God’s love and light overcoming the shadows of sin and suffering. This passage invites us to reflect on how we, like Jesus, can bring light and hope into the lives of others through our words and actions.
These readings together remind us that our faith is not merely an inward belief but a lived expression of God’s love. Just as Jesus went out to preach, teach, and heal, we too are called to go out into the world, guided by the Spirit of truth. In our daily lives, let us strive to keep God’s commandments, to love one another, and to discern the movements of the Spirit. May we trust in the greater power of God within us, and may we allow his light to shine through us, bringing hope and healing to a world in need.