Daily Readings - Sat Jan 07 2023
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
1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."9They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about trust and transformation. The first reading from 1 John reminds us of the confidence we have in prayer, knowing that God hears us when we ask according to His will. It distinguishes between sins, reassuring us of God's protection and the eternal life offered through His Son. The Gospel from John tells the story of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus transforms water into wine, revealing His glory and the power of faith.
Both readings are set in contexts that highlight trust in God. 1 John was written to early Christians to strengthen their faith, while the wedding at Cana is an early sign in John's Gospel that showcases Jesus' divine nature. The common thread is the transformative power of faith—whether through prayer or through trusting in God's plan.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's plan and remain open to His transformative power. Just as Mary trusted Jesus at the wedding, we can have confidence that God hears our prayers and works in our lives. The moral lesson here is the importance of faith and trust. Let us approach prayer with confidence, knowing God's love and care, and allow Him to work through us, transforming our lives and the world around us.