Daily Readings - Thu Jan 07 2021
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 are reminded of the profound connection between love, faith, and action. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true love for God is inseparable from love for our neighbor. John writes, “If anyone says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar.” This passage underscores the importance of living out our faith through tangible acts of love and kindness. It also highlights the victory of faith over the challenges of the world, a victory rooted in keeping God’s commandments.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus’ mission statement, as He reads from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth. Jesus declares that He has been anointed to bring good news to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, and freedom to those oppressed. This passage is not just a description of Jesus’ ministry but also an invitation for us to participate in His mission. Just as Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in His time, we are called to fulfill it in ours by living as instruments of God’s love and justice in the world.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely a feeling or a belief but a way of life. To love God is to love our neighbor, and to follow Christ is to serve those in need. Let us reflect on how we can embody this love and mission in our daily lives. Are we using our talents, resources, and time to bring light and hope to those around us? Let us ask for the grace to live out our faith with courage and compassion, trusting that God’s commandments are not burdensome but transformative. In doing so, we become part of the victory that overcomes the world—the victory of love and faith.