Daily Readings - Mon Jan 07 2019
1 John
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Matthew
12Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:14That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.25And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of keeping God’s commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another. John writes that those who abide in God are recognizable by the Spirit he has given them, and he warns us to discern the spirits, for not every spirit is of God. This passage calls us to live in truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, for “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
The Gospel reading from Matthew illustrates Jesus’ ministry as a fulfillment of prophecy and a manifestation of God’s light in a world shrouded in darkness. After withdrawing to Galilee, Jesus begins to preach, teach, and heal, drawing people from all regions to himself. His actions demonstrate the kingdom of heaven drawing near, and his ministry is a testament to the power of God’s love and light overcoming the shadows of sin and suffering. This passage invites us to reflect on how we, like Jesus, can bring light and hope into the lives of others through our words and actions.
These readings together remind us that our faith is not merely an inward belief but a lived expression of God’s love. Just as Jesus went out to preach, teach, and heal, we too are called to go out into the world, guided by the Spirit of truth. In our daily lives, let us strive to keep God’s commandments, to love one another, and to discern the movements of the Spirit. May we trust in the greater power of God within us, and may we allow his light to shine through us, bringing hope and healing to a world in need.