Daily Readings - Thu Jan 05 2023
1 John
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
John
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that."51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Sermon
The first reading from 1 John reminds us of the fundamental commandment of love. John emphasizes that love is not merely a feeling or words, but it must be expressed in actions. He warns against hatred and selfishness, which lead to death, and encourages us to lay down our lives for one another. This love is not abstract; it is concrete, like sharing our resources with those in need. John also reassures us that if our hearts do not condemn us, we can have confidence in God’s presence in our lives.
The Gospel reading from John tells the story of Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael. Philip, after being called by Jesus, immediately shares the news with Nathanael, who is skeptical at first but eventually comes to faith. Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael, and Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus then promises that Nathanael will see even greater things, emphasizing the unfolding revelation of God’s plan. This passage highlights the importance of invitation, openness to God’s call, and the deeper understanding that comes from following Jesus.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith. John’s letter challenges us to love not just in words but in deeds, while the Gospel shows us the transformative power of encountering Christ. Like Nathanael, we are called to move beyond our doubts and preconceptions to follow Jesus with openness and trust. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living out the love of God in tangible ways? Are we open to the ways God is revealing himself to us? May we, like Nathanael, come to see Jesus more clearly and follow him with greater fidelity, trusting that he has even greater things in store for us.