Daily Readings - Mon Jan 06 2020
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between faith, love, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that keeping God’s commandments—believing in Jesus Christ and loving one another—is the essence of our relationship with God. John emphasizes that God’s Spirit dwells within us, guiding us to discern truth from falsehood. He warns us to test the spirits, for not every voice is of God. This passage calls us to live in the light of God’s truth and to trust in the greater power of God within us, which enables us to overcome the forces of darkness.
In the Gospel, Matthew describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus moves to Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that a light would shine in the darkness. Jesus preaches repentance, teaches in the synagogues, and heals the sick, demonstrating the power of God’s kingdom. His ministry attracts people from all walks of life, showing that God’s love and healing are available to all. This passage reminds us that Jesus is the true light who has come into the world to dispel darkness, and we are called to follow Him and share His message of hope and salvation.
Together, these readings teach us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life. Just as Jesus brought light and healing to those in darkness, we are called to live as instruments of God’s love and truth in the world. In our daily lives, we must discern the spirits, rejecting falsehood and clinging to the truth of God’s Word. Let us trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, who empowers us to love one another and to bring light to those around us. May we, like Jesus, be sources of hope and healing, living out the kingdom of God in all that we do.