Daily Readings - Sat Jan 05 2019
1 John
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
John
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that."51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and love. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love is not merely a feeling but a call to action. John contrasts the wickedness of Cain, who allowed jealousy to lead him to murder, with the righteousness of Abel. This serves as a stark reminder that our actions must reflect our faith, and that true love is demonstrated through selfless acts, not just words. The Gospel reading from John introduces us to Philip and Nathanael, whose encounter with Jesus illustrates the journey from doubt to belief. Nathanael's initial skepticism about Jesus being from Nazareth is transformed into a profound declaration of faith when Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael's heart. This exchange shows that faith often begins with small steps of trust and can grow into something much deeper.
Both readings emphasize the connection between belief and action. In 1 John, we are urged to love not in words but in truth and action. Similarly, in the Gospel, Nathanael's belief in Jesus leads him to follow Him, demonstrating that faith is not static but dynamic. The readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways, whether through acts of love and service or through trusting in God's plan even when it seems unclear.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we living out our faith in ways that reflect God's love? Do we allow doubt to hold us back, or do we take steps of trust, like Nathanael, to deepen our relationship with God? The moral lesson here is clear: love and faith are not abstract concepts but lived experiences. Just as Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree, He sees us in our own struggles and invites us to follow Him. May we respond with hearts open to His love, trusting that He will reveal greater things to us as we walk in faith.