Daily Readings - Fri Jan 08 2021

⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.⁶This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.⁷For there are three that testify:⁸the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.⁹We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.¹⁰Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.¹¹And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Luke

Chapter 5

¹²While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."¹³Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.¹⁴Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."¹⁵Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.¹⁶But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, testimony, and the transformative power of belief. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God, highlighting that this belief overcomes the world and grants eternal life. John underscores the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, symbolizing the sacraments and the divine truth. This passage reassures us that our faith in Jesus is a source of eternal life, urging us to trust in His divine testimony. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a leper. The leper's humble plea and Jesus' compassionate response illustrate the power of faith and compassion. Jesus' instruction to present himself to the priest serves as a public testimony of God's work. Despite the leper's obedience, news of the miracle spreads, drawing more people to Jesus. This story shows how faith leads to action and how our encounters with Jesus can inspire others. Both readings remind us that faith is both internal and external. Like the leper, our faith should lead us to boldness and trust in Jesus' power. As 1 John suggests, our belief in Jesus transforms us internally, granting eternal life, while externally, it leads to actions that testify to God's love. In our daily lives, let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide our actions and inspire others, just as the leper's healing became a testament to God's grace.