Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 6, 2024
First Reading: 1 John 5.5-13
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.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!8He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.10His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,11but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.14He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.17He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?18He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.19He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.20He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Mark 1.4-5, 7-11
4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.7And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, the testimony of God, and the transformative power of baptism. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the foundation of our faith. John emphasizes that Jesus came not just with water, symbolizing purification, but also with blood, signifying His sacrifice for humanity. The testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood all point to the truth of God’s love and the gift of eternal life through His Son. John also warns that to reject this testimony is to reject God Himself, for faith in Jesus is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, abiding trust that shapes our very lives.
In the Gospel, Mark describes the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This event is a pivotal moment in the life of Christ, as it marks the beginning of His public ministry. The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the voice from heaven declaring Jesus as the beloved Son affirm His divine identity. This passage reminds us that baptism is more than a ritual; it is a sacrament that unites us to Christ and fills us with the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was anointed for His mission, we too are called to live out our baptismal identity, bearing witness to God’s love in the world.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and how we live it out. Do we truly believe in the power of Christ’s sacrifice and the gift of eternal life? Are we living as children of God, reflecting His love and truth in our daily lives? Let us draw strength from the testimony of God and the grace of baptism, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our journey of faith. May we, like Jesus, be faithful witnesses to the Gospel, bringing light and hope to a world in need.