Daily Readings - Sat Jan 06 2018
First Reading - 1 John 5.5-13
1 John
5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Gospel - Mark 1.4-5, 7-11
Mark
4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.5And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful testimonies of faith and divine affirmation. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John highlights the threefold testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, which all point to the reality of Christ’s divine mission. He reminds us that eternal life is found in the Son, and believing in Him gives us confidence in God’s promises. The Gospel from Mark vividly describes the baptism of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice declares Jesus as His beloved Son. This moment is a profound revelation of the Trinity and the divine seal of approval on Jesus’ mission.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian understanding of faith and identity. For John, writing to a community facing doubts and challenges, the emphasis is on the certainty of God’s testimony about His Son. Mark’s account of Jesus’ baptism serves as a foundational moment in His ministry, showing how God publicly affirms Jesus as the Messiah. Both readings intersect in their focus on testimony—whether from God or from the Spirit—and how this testimony shapes our understanding of who Jesus is and who we are as His followers.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on the foundation of our faith. Like the early believers, we are called to trust in God’s testimony about His Son, even when the world around us may seem uncertain. The baptism of Jesus reminds us that our own baptism is a sacramental testimony of God’s love and our adoption as His children. As we navigate life’s challenges, let us draw strength from the assurance that we have eternal life in Christ and that the Holy Spirit remains with us, guiding and empowering us to live as witnesses of God’s love. May we, like John the Baptist, humbly acknowledge our role in pointing others to the One who is greater, and may we embrace the truth that in Christ, we are beloved and pleasing to the Father.