Daily Readings - Mon Jan 06 2020
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that keeping God’s commandments—believing in Jesus Christ and loving one another—is the essence of our relationship with God. John emphasizes that God’s Spirit dwells within us, guiding us to discern truth from falsehood. He warns us to test the spirits, for not every voice is of God. This passage calls us to live in the light of God’s truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, which enables us to overcome the forces of darkness.
In the Gospel, Matthew describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus moves to Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that a light would shine in the darkness. Jesus preaches repentance, teaches in the synagogues, and heals the sick, demonstrating the power of God’s kingdom. His ministry attracts people from all walks of life, showing that God’s love and healing are available to all. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the true light who has come into the world to dispel darkness, and we are called to follow Him and share His message of hope and salvation.
Together, these readings teach us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life. Just as Jesus brought light and healing to those in darkness, we are called to live as instruments of God’s love and truth in the world. In our daily lives, we must discern the spirits, rejecting falsehood and clinging to the truth of God’s Word. Let us trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, who empowers us to love one another and to bring light to those around us. May we, like Jesus, be sources of hope and healing, living out the kingdom of God in all that we do.