Daily Readings - Mon Jan 06 2020
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that keeping God’s commandments—believing in Jesus Christ and loving one another—is the essence of our relationship with God. John emphasizes that God’s Spirit dwells within us, guiding us to discern truth from falsehood. He warns us to test the spirits, for not every voice is of God. This passage calls us to live in the light of God’s truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, which enables us to overcome the forces of darkness.
In the Gospel, Matthew describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus moves to Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that a light would shine in the darkness. Jesus preaches repentance, teaches in the synagogues, and heals the sick, demonstrating the power of God’s kingdom. His ministry attracts people from all walks of life, showing that God’s love and healing are available to all. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the true light who has come into the world to dispel darkness, and we are called to follow Him and share His message of hope and salvation.
Together, these readings teach us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life. Just as Jesus brought light and healing to those in darkness, we are called to live as instruments of God’s love and truth in the world. In our daily lives, we must discern the spirits, rejecting falsehood and clinging to the truth of God’s Word. Let us trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, who empowers us to love one another and to bring light to those around us. May we, like Jesus, be sources of hope and healing, living out the kingdom of God in all that we do.