Daily Readings - Fri Jan 10 2020

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.

Luke

Chapter 5

¹²And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.¹³And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.¹⁴And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.¹⁵But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.¹⁶And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about faith and compassion. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It highlights the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine nature of Christ. The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassion as He heals a leper, demonstrating His divine power and mercy, followed by His retreat into prayer for spiritual renewal. These passages remind us that faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep trust in God's promises, leading to eternal life. Just as the leper trusted Jesus for healing, we must trust God in our trials. The healings and teachings of Jesus call us to live with compassion and humility, reflecting His love in our actions. After healing, Jesus withdrew to pray, showing the importance of prayer in maintaining a strong spiritual life. In our daily lives, let us embrace faith as a living trust in God, seeking Him in prayer and emulating His compassion. May we, like the leper, approach Jesus with humility and trust, and may our actions reflect the love and mercy He has shown us. Through faith and prayer, we find the strength to overcome the world and live in the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ.