Daily Readings - Fri Jan 08 2021

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 explore themes of faith, testimony, and the transformative power of belief. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God, highlighting that this belief overcomes the world and grants eternal life. John underscores the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine truth. This passage reassures us that our faith in Jesus is a source of eternal life, urging us to trust in His divine testimony. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a leper. The leper's humble plea and Jesus' compassionate response illustrate the power of faith and compassion. Jesus' instruction to present himself to the priest serves as a public testimony of God's work. Despite the leper's obedience, news of the miracle spreads, drawing more people to Jesus. This story shows how faith leads to action and how our encounters with Jesus can inspire others. Both readings remind us that faith is both internal and external. Like the leper, our faith should lead us to boldness and trust in Jesus' power. As 1 John suggests, our belief in Jesus transforms us internally, granting eternal life, while externally, it leads to actions that testify to God's love. In our daily lives, let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide our actions and inspire others, just as the leper's healing became a testament to God's grace.