Daily Readings - Fri Jan 11 2019
1 John
5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?6This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.7For there are three that testify:8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.10Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
Luke
12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."13And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.14And he charged him to tell no one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them."15But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.16But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between faith, testimony, and the transformative power of God’s love. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John highlights the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who together testify to the truth of God’s love. He also reminds us that eternal life is found in the Son, and those who believe in him already possess this life. The reading encourages us to trust in God’s testimony, which is greater than any human word, and to live with confidence in our faith.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid example of this faith in action. A man afflicted with leprosy approaches Jesus with humility and trust, acknowledging Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus, moved by compassion, touches the man and restores him to full health. This miracle is not just a physical healing but also a spiritual one, as it reveals Jesus’ divine authority and the power of faith. Jesus then instructs the man to present himself to the priest, not only to fulfill the legal requirements of his time but also as a public testimony to God’s work in his life. Despite Jesus’ request for silence, the man’s healing becomes known, drawing even more people to Jesus.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith and how we live it out. Like the leper, we are called to approach God with humility and trust, acknowledging our need for healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. When we experience God’s grace, we are compelled to share this gift with others, not through words alone but through the way we live. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in their testimony, our words and actions must also be united in bearing witness to God’s love. Let us, therefore, embrace the truth that eternal life is ours in Christ and live each day as a testament to the transformative power of faith.