Daily Readings - Sun Jan 10 2021
Isaiah
1"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.3Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.4See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.5Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."6Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.7Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.8"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.9"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
1 John
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.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.
Mark
7And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound relationship between faith, trust, and the divine plan. The first reading from Isaiah offers a beautiful invitation to turn to God, emphasizing that His ways and thoughts are far greater than ours. Isaiah urges us to seek the Lord while He is near, promising that His word will accomplish its purpose, much like the rain and snow that nourish the earth. This reading reminds us of God’s generosity and the transformative power of His word in our lives.
The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by highlighting the victory of faith. John reminds us that everyone who believes in Jesus as the Son of God is born of God and overcomes the world. Love for God is not just a feeling but is expressed through keeping His commandments, which are not burdensome. John also emphasizes the testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, affirming the truth of who Jesus is. This reading calls us to live out our faith with confidence and love, trusting in God’s testimony over the fleeting opinions of the world.
In the Gospel, Mark describes the baptism of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit descends upon Him, and the Father declares His delight in His beloved Son. This passage reveals the profound truth of Jesus’ identity and mission. John the Baptist humbly acknowledges his role as a precursor, pointing to the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. This moment of revelation invites us to reflect on our own baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just as Jesus was affirmed by the Father, we too are beloved children of God, called to live out our faith with humility and trust.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in God’s plan, even when it seems beyond our understanding? Are we living out our faith with love and obedience to His commandments? Let us seek the Lord while He is near, allowing His word to nourish us and transform us. May we, like Jesus, be open to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, and may we humbly point others to the One who is the Truth. In doing so, we will find the victory that overcomes the world—the victory of faith, love, and trust in God.