Daily Readings - Sat Jan 08 2022
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 are invited to reflect on the nature of prayer, humility, and our relationship with God. The first reading from 1 John reminds us of the confidence we have in prayer when we ask according to God’s will. John emphasizes that God hears us and grants our requests when they align with His purpose. He also warns us about sin, distinguishing between sins that lead to death and those that do not, while reassuring us that the evil one cannot touch those reborn in God. The reading concludes with a call to remain faithful and avoid false worship.
The Gospel from John 3 shifts our focus to John the Baptist, who humbly acknowledges his role as a precursor to Jesus. When questioned about Jesus baptizing more people, John explains that his joy is fulfilled in seeing Jesus increase while he himself decreases. He reminds us that Jesus is the bridegroom, and we are merely friends of the bridegroom, rejoicing at His voice. John’s humility and willingness to step aside for Christ serve as a powerful example for us.
These readings remind us that our prayers must be rooted in humility and alignment with God’s will, not our own desires. Like John the Baptist, we are called to decrease so that Christ may increase in our lives. In a world often driven by self-promotion and competition, John’s example challenges us to embrace humility and trust in God’s plan. Let us strive to live in such a way that our lives reflect the truth of the Gospel, and may we always remember that our ultimate joy is found in knowing and remaining in the true Son of God, Jesus Christ.