Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 4, 2023
First Reading: 1 John 3.7-10
7Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.8Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.9No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.10By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Psalm 98
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!8Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together9before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Gospel: John 1.35-42
35The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,36and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"39He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.40One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter ).
Sermon
In today’s readings, we explore themes of identity and mission rooted in our faith. The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes that our identity as children of God is marked by justice and love. John reminds us that true believers act justly and love one another, reflecting God’s nature within them. This identity is not passive; it calls us to live out our faith actively through our actions and choices.
The Gospel reading from John illustrates the beginning of the disciples’ journey with Jesus. John the Baptist’s testimony leads two disciples to follow Jesus, showcasing the importance of witnessing and inviting others to encounter Christ. Andrew’s eagerness to bring his brother Peter to Jesus highlights the missionary aspect of our faith—once we find Christ, we are compelled to share Him with others.
These readings remind us that our faith is both a gift and a call to action. Recognizing our identity in Christ should inspire us to live justly and love generously. Just as Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, we too can bring others to Christ through our words and deeds. Let us embrace our mission to live out our faith with love and justice, reflecting God’s presence in the world.