Daily Readings - Fri Jan 05 2024
1 John
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
John
43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of love, faith, and discipleship. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love is not merely a feeling or a word, but a way of life. John contrasts the selfishness of Cain, who allowed jealousy to lead him to murder, with the selfless love of God, who laid down his life for us. This love, John tells us, must be expressed in concrete actions, especially in caring for those in need. True love is not about what we say but about what we do, and it is through such love that we demonstrate our unity with God and our passage from death to life.
In the Gospel, we see how this love and faith are lived out in the lives of the disciples. Philip, having been called by Jesus, immediately shares the good news with Nathanael. Nathanael’s initial skepticism—“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”—is common to us all. We often doubt, question, and hesitate. But Philip’s response, “Come and see,” is an invitation to move beyond doubt and to encounter Jesus personally. When Nathanael meets Jesus, he is struck by Jesus’ knowledge of him even before they speak. This encounter leads Nathanael to profess faith in Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. The Gospel reminds us that faith begins with an encounter with Jesus, and it grows as we experience his presence in our lives.
These readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith and love in our daily lives. Are we like Cain, allowing selfishness and jealousy to rule our hearts, or are we like Nathanael, open to encountering Jesus and following him? John reminds us that love is not just a feeling but a choice to act selflessly for others. Let us ask ourselves: Do we love in words only, or do we love in deeds and in truth? Let us also remember that faith, like Nathanael’s, is a journey that begins with an invitation to “come and see” and deepens as we experience the presence of God in our lives. May we, like Nathanael, have the courage to follow Jesus and to share his love with others.