Daily Readings - Sat Jan 09 2021
1 John
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.15And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
John
22After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.23Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.24(This was before John was put in prison.)25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.'29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.30He must become greater; I must become less.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we explore themes of trust, humility, and the divine plan. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes confidence in prayer, urging us to pray for others, especially those who sin, trusting that God hears us when our requests align with His will. It distinguishes between sin that leads to death and other sins, reassuring us of God’s protection from evil. The second reading from John’s Gospel depicts John the Baptist’s humble acknowledgment of his role as a precursor to Jesus, illustrating that true greatness lies in recognizing one’s place in God’s plan.
Both readings highlight the importance of aligning our wills with God’s. John’s epistle encourages us to trust in God’s providence through prayer, while John the Baptist’s humility teaches us to embrace our roles without envy. Their contexts—John’s reassurance to early Christians and the transition from John’s ministry to Jesus’—remind us that our confidence and humility are rooted in God’s grace and our acceptance of His timing and purpose.
In daily life, these readings call us to pray with confidence, trusting in God’s will, and to humbly accept our roles, pointing others to Christ. The moral lesson is clear: cultivate humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us pray with faith, support each other in our spiritual journeys, and find joy in fulfilling our unique roles, knowing that true fulfillment comes from aligning our lives with God’s will.