Daily Readings - Tue Jan 03 2023
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 encounter profound truths about our identity as children of God and the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that we are born of God and called to live justly, for sin contradicts the holiness of our heavenly Father. The Gospel from John presents the moment when John the Baptist publicly identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him, confirming his divine identity. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the transformative power of His love.
The context of 1 John is a letter written to early Christians, emphasizing the nature of God as love and the call to live in a way that reflects His holiness. The Gospel scene takes place at the Jordan River, where John baptizes Jesus, an event that reveals Jesus’ mission to save humanity from sin. Both readings highlight the connection between God’s love and our response to it. In 1 John, we are reminded that we are children of God, and this identity calls us to live in a way that mirrors His holiness. In the Gospel, we see the humility of Jesus, who, though sinless, submits to baptism to fulfill God’s plan and reveal His divine nature.
These readings challenge us to live with a deep awareness of our identity as God’s children and to embrace the call to holiness. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point others to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. As we go about our daily lives, may we remember that we are called to live justly and love deeply, reflecting the holiness of God. Let us also seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to see Jesus as He truly is and to follow Him with faith and devotion. In doing so, we become living witnesses to the transformative power of God’s love in a world that so desperately needs it.