Daily Readings - Thu Jan 09 2020
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
In today's readings, we explore the essence of love and mission. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that true love for God is inseparable from love for our neighbors. John emphasizes that loving God without loving others is hypocritical, urging us to keep God's commandments as an expression of our love. This love, rooted in faith, empowers us to overcome the world's challenges.
The Gospel from Luke depicts Jesus' mission statement, where He proclaims His role as the Messiah, bringing hope and liberation to the marginalized. This moment in the synagogue at Nazareth is pivotal, as Jesus aligns His mission with Isaiah's prophecy, highlighting His commitment to the poor, the brokenhearted, and the oppressed. The crowd's mixed reaction invites us to reflect on how we respond to God's call in our lives.
Together, these readings connect love and mission, showing that loving God leads to serving others. Our faith is not passive but active, demonstrated through acts of love and justice. In daily life, this means putting our faith into action, whether through kindness, charity, or advocating for justice. The moral lesson is clear: true love for God is evident in our actions towards others, fulfilling His mission in the world.