Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 2, 2026
First Reading: 1 John 2.22-28
22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son.23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.24See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.25And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.28And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Psalm 98
1Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.3He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;5make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,6with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn- shout for joy before the LORD, the King.7Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.8Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy;9let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Gospel: John 1.19-28
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ. "21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not.Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."22Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"24Now some Pharisees who had been sent25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Sermon
The first reading from 1 John encourages us to remain steadfast in the truth we have heard from the beginning: that Jesus is the Christ. It warns against those who deny this fundamental truth, identifying them as antichrist spirits, and assures us that abiding in this truth means abiding in both the Son and the Father, leading to the promise of eternal life. The anointing we have received, the passage explains, teaches us all truth and guides us to remain in Him. In the Gospel of John, we witness John the Baptist embodying this commitment to truth, as he humbly and clearly denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. Instead, he identifies himself solely as a voice preparing the way for the Lord, acknowledging his unworthiness even to untie the laces of the one who stands among them, whom they do not yet know.
These readings powerfully converge on the theme of truth and identity. 1 John calls us to discern and confess the true identity of Jesus as the Christ, guarding our faith against any denial or deception. John the Baptist serves as a profound example of this discernment. He does not allow himself to be misidentified or elevated beyond his true calling. His humility in pointing away from himself and towards the true Messiah is a powerful testament to living in the truth. Just as the anointing in 1 John teaches us, John the Baptist's life teaches us to focus not on our own significance, but on the One who truly matters, preparing our hearts and the hearts of others for His coming.
In our own lives, we are constantly invited to embrace or deny the truth of Christ. This means not only intellectual assent but living a life that reflects our belief in Him as Lord and Savior. We are called to embody John the Baptist's humility, always directing attention to Christ rather than ourselves, and to rely on the Spirit's anointing to discern the truth amidst the many competing voices in the world. Our steadfastness in confessing Jesus as the Christ, and our willingness to make His way straight in our own hearts and actions, is how we truly abide in Him and receive the promise of eternal life.