Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 3, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 2.29; 3.1-6
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.
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 1.29-34
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
Today's first reading from the First Letter of John reminds us of the extraordinary gift of God's love: that we are called, and truly become, children of God. This profound identity carries a corresponding call to holiness and justice. If we know that God is just, then those who do what is just are born of Him. John emphasizes that everyone who lives with this hope in Christ keeps himself holy, because Christ Himself is holy. Sin, he explains, is iniquity, and Christ appeared precisely to take away our sins, for there is no sin in Him. To abide in Him means not to live in sin. This truth is beautifully complemented by John the Baptist's testimony in today's Gospel. He identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," confirming His divine mission and pre-existence, a mission inaugurated and witnessed by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him.
These readings illuminate each other perfectly, showing us both our exalted status and the means by which it is achieved. The First Letter of John tells us *what* we are and *how* we should live as children of God—in holiness, free from sin—while the Gospel tells us *who* makes this possible: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. It is through Him that our sins are taken away, and it is in Him that we find the power to live righteously. This isn't merely a theological concept; it is a call to daily life. If we truly believe we are God's children, chosen and loved, then our actions must reflect this dignity. We are to strive for justice, to resist sin, and to continually turn to Christ for strength and forgiveness, knowing that He has already paid the price for our redemption.
Our hope in Christ is not a passive expectation, but an active principle that transforms our lives. To keep ourselves holy, just as He is holy, means making conscious choices each day that align with God's will and reflect His love to those around us. This profound identity as "sons and daughters of God" is not something we await, but a present reality that empowers us to overcome the challenges of sin and temptation. Let us therefore live each day with gratitude for this incredible gift, allowing the cleansing power of the Lamb of God to purify our hearts and guide our steps toward a life that truly manifests our divine sonship.