Daily Readings - Thu Jan 07 2021
1 John
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
Luke
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.21And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."22And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between love, faith, and action. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true love for God is inseparable from love for our neighbor. John writes, “If anyone says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar.” This passage underscores the importance of living out our faith through tangible acts of love and kindness. It also highlights the victory of faith over the challenges of the world, a victory rooted in keeping God’s commandments.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus’ mission statement, as He reads from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth. Jesus declares that He has been anointed to bring good news to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, and freedom to those oppressed. This passage is not just a description of Jesus’ ministry but also an invitation for us to participate in His mission. Just as Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in His time, we are called to fulfill it in ours by living as instruments of God’s love and justice in the world.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely a feeling or a belief but a way of life. To love God is to love our neighbor, and to follow Christ is to serve those in need. Let us reflect on how we can embody this love and mission in our daily lives. Are we using our talents, resources, and time to bring light and hope to those around us? Let us ask for the grace to live out our faith with courage and compassion, trusting that God’s commandments are not burdensome but transformative. In doing so, we become part of the victory that overcomes the world—the victory of love and faith.