Daily Readings - Fri Jan 10 2020

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

Chapter 5

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 encounter profound truths about faith and compassion. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It highlights the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine nature of Christ. The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassion as He heals a leper, demonstrating His divine power and mercy, followed by His retreat into prayer for spiritual renewal. These passages remind us that faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep trust in God's promises, leading to eternal life. Just as the leper trusted Jesus for healing, we must trust God in our trials. The healings and teachings of Jesus call us to live with compassion and humility, reflecting His love in our actions. After healing, Jesus withdrew to pray, showing the importance of prayer in maintaining a strong spiritual life. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith as a living trust in God, seeking Him in prayer and emulating His compassion. May we, like the leper, approach Jesus with humility and trust, and may our actions reflect the love and mercy He has shown us. Through faith and prayer, we find the strength to overcome the world and live in the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ.