Daily Readings - Sat Jan 02 2021
1 John
22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son.23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.24See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.25And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.28And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
John
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ. "21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not.Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"24Now some Pharisees who had been sent25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter themes of truth, identity, and the call to remain faithful. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that denying Jesus as the Christ is a grave error, as it separates us from both the Father and the Son. John emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the teachings we have received from the beginning, for in doing so, we abide in the Son and the Father. He warns against false teachers who would lead us astray, assuring us that the anointing of the Holy Spirit within us is sufficient to guide us in truth.
The Gospel reading from John presents John the Baptist’s humble testimony. When questioned by the priests and Levites, John clearly states, “I am not the Christ,” and instead identifies himself as a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. His humility and clarity of purpose stand in contrast to the confusion and expectations of those who question him. John’s baptism is not an end in itself but a preparation for the One who is to come, the One whose sandals he is not worthy to untie.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own identity and purpose. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point others to Christ, not to seek glory for ourselves. In a world filled with competing voices and false promises, we must remain grounded in the truth of who Jesus is and what he has taught us. The Holy Spirit, the anointing we have received, equips us to discern truth from falsehood and to abide in Christ. Let us strive to live with humility, fidelity, and a commitment to the truth, so that when Christ appears, we may stand before him with confidence and not be confounded.