Daily Readings - Fri Jan 07 2022

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 encounter powerful messages about faith, healing, and the nature of God. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It highlights the unity of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and reminds us that eternal life is found in the Son. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this theology through the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. The leper’s humility and faith in Jesus’ power to heal are met with compassion and immediate action, demonstrating Jesus’ divine authority and mercy. The connection between these readings lies in their focus on faith and trust in God. The epistle provides the theological foundation, while the Gospel shows this faith in action. The leper’s plea, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean,” reflects the kind of faith that 1 John describes as overcoming the world. Jesus’ response, “I am willing,” reveals God’s desire to heal and restore, both physically and spiritually. This exchange reminds us that our faith is not just intellectual assent but a trusting surrender to God’s will and power in our lives. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we approach God with the humility and trust of the leper? Are we willing to surrender our fears and doubts to God’s mercy? The readings call us to deepen our faith and to live as witnesses to God’s love and power. Just as the leper was healed and sent to testify to God’s work, we too are called to share the good news of eternal life in Jesus Christ. May we, like the leper, experience the healing touch of Jesus and then go forth to proclaim His goodness to a world in need.