Daily Readings - Mon Jan 07 2019
1 John
22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.24Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Matthew
12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."17From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of keeping God’s commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another. John writes that those who abide in God are recognizable by the Spirit he has given them, and he warns us to discern the spirits, for not every spirit is of God. This passage calls us to live in truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, for “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
The Gospel reading from Matthew illustrates Jesus’ ministry as a fulfillment of prophecy and a manifestation of God’s light in a world shrouded in darkness. After withdrawing to Galilee, Jesus begins to preach, teach, and heal, drawing people from all regions to himself. His actions demonstrate the kingdom of heaven drawing near, and his ministry is a testament to the power of God’s love and light overcoming the shadows of sin and suffering. This passage invites us to reflect on how we, like Jesus, can bring light and hope into the lives of others through our words and actions.
These readings together remind us that our faith is not merely an inward belief but a lived expression of God’s love. Just as Jesus went out to preach, teach, and heal, we too are called to go out into the world, guided by the Spirit of truth. In our daily lives, let us strive to keep God’s commandments, to love one another, and to discern the movements of the Spirit. May we trust in the greater power of God within us, and may we allow his light to shine through us, bringing hope and healing to a world in need.