Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 2, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 2.22-28
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.
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 1.19-28
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
The first reading from 1 John encourages us to remain steadfast in the truth we have heard from the beginning: that Jesus is the Christ. It warns against those who deny this fundamental truth, identifying them as antichrist spirits, and assures us that abiding in this truth means abiding in both the Son and the Father, leading to the promise of eternal life. The anointing we have received, the passage explains, teaches us all truth and guides us to remain in Him. In the Gospel of John, we witness John the Baptist embodying this commitment to truth, as he humbly and clearly denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. Instead, he identifies himself solely as a voice preparing the way for the Lord, acknowledging his unworthiness even to untie the laces of the one who stands among them, whom they do not yet know.
These readings powerfully converge on the theme of truth and identity. 1 John calls us to discern and confess the true identity of Jesus as the Christ, guarding our faith against any denial or deception. John the Baptist serves as a profound example of this discernment. He does not allow himself to be misidentified or elevated beyond his true calling. His humility in pointing away from himself and towards the true Messiah is a powerful testament to living in the truth. Just as the anointing in 1 John teaches us, John the Baptist's life teaches us to focus not on our own significance, but on the One who truly matters, preparing our hearts and the hearts of others for His coming.
In our own lives, we are constantly invited to embrace or deny the truth of Christ. This means not only intellectual assent but living a life that reflects our belief in Him as Lord and Savior. We are called to embody John the Baptist's humility, always directing attention to Christ rather than ourselves, and to rely on the Spirit's anointing to discern the truth amidst the many competing voices in the world. Our steadfastness in confessing Jesus as the Christ, and our willingness to make His way straight in our own hearts and actions, is how we truly abide in Him and receive the promise of eternal life.