Daily Readings - Thu Jan 10 2019
1 John
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Luke
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.21And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between love, faith, and our mission as followers of Christ. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to live according to God’s commandments. John emphasizes that true love for God cannot exist without love for our neighbor. If we claim to love God, whom we cannot see, we must also love those around us, whom we can see. This love is not optional; it is a fundamental expression of our faith and a sign that we are born of God. John also assures us that living out God’s commandments is not a burden but a source of strength, for “all that is born of God overcomes the world.”
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring liberation and hope to all people. Jesus, filled with the Spirit, proclaims His mission to preach to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and bring freedom to those oppressed. This passage from Isaiah is not just a prophecy; it is a blueprint for how Jesus lived His life and how He calls us to live ours. By identifying Himself as the one anointed by the Spirit, Jesus sets the tone for a ministry rooted in compassion, justice, and mercy. His words in the synagogue at Nazareth are a call to action for us today: to see ourselves as part of this mission and to live in a way that reflects God’s love for the world.
These readings challenge us to examine how we are living out our faith in our daily lives. Are we loving God and our neighbors as John encourages? Are we actively working to bring hope and healing to those around us, as Jesus did? Let us remember that our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we act. By keeping God’s commandments and living with compassion, we overcome the challenges of the world and become instruments of God’s love. May we, like Jesus, allow the Spirit to guide us in fulfilling our mission to serve and love others, bringing light and hope to a world in need.