Daily Readings - Fri Jan 03 2020
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 embrace our divine adoption, urging us to live holy lives as we await the full revelation of God's plan. It emphasizes that sin is iniquity, yet through Jesus, our sins are taken away, enabling us to abide in Him without sin. The Gospel of John presents John the Baptist's testimony, declaring Jesus as the Lamb of God who removes the world's sin, confirmed by the Holy Spirit's descent upon Him.
These passages beautifully intertwine, with 1 John providing the theological foundation of our holy calling and the Gospel illustrating how Jesus embodies this redemption. Together, they highlight Jesus as both the example of holiness and the source of our salvation. Recognizing our identity as God's children should inspire us to pursue holiness, while trusting in Jesus' power to overcome sin.
In our daily lives, let us embrace our divine identity, striving to live in accordance with God's will. May we find strength in Jesus, who not only reveals God's love but also empowers us to live sin-free lives. As we journey through life, may we continually seek to reflect God's holiness, trusting in Jesus as our savior and guide.