Daily Readings - Sat Jan 02 2021
1 John
22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.25And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.26I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything--and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you--abide in him.28And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
John
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."21And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not.Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."22So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"23He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)25They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"26John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter themes of truth, identity, and the call to remain faithful. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that denying Jesus as the Christ is a grave error, as it separates us from both the Father and the Son. John emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the teachings we have received from the beginning, for in doing so, we abide in the Son and the Father. He warns against false teachers who would lead us astray, assuring us that the anointing of the Holy Spirit within us is sufficient to guide us in truth.
The Gospel reading from John presents John the Baptist’s humble testimony. When questioned by the priests and Levites, John clearly states, “I am not the Christ,” and instead identifies himself as a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. His humility and clarity of purpose stand in contrast to the confusion and expectations of those who question him. John’s baptism is not an end in itself but a preparation for the One who is to come, the One whose sandals he is not worthy to untie.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own identity and purpose. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point others to Christ, not to seek glory for ourselves. In a world filled with competing voices and false promises, we must remain grounded in the truth of who Jesus is and what he has taught us. The Holy Spirit, the anointing we have received, equips us to discern truth from falsehood and to abide in Christ. Let us strive to live with humility, fidelity, and a commitment to the truth, so that when Christ appears, we may stand before him with confidence and not be confounded.