Daily Readings - Tue Jan 02 2018

First Reading - 1 John 2.22-28

²²Who is a liar, other than he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son²³No one who denies the Son also has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son, also has the Father²⁴As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you, too, shall abide in the Son and in the Father²⁵And this is the Promise, which he himself has promised to us: Eternal Life²⁶I have written these things to you, because of those who would seduce you²⁷But as for you, let the Anointing that you have received from him abide in you. And so, you have no need of anyone to teach you. For his Anointing teaches you about everything, and it is the truth, and it is not a lie. And just as his Anointing has taught you, abide in him²⁸And now, little sons, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have faith, and we may not be confounded by him at his advent

Gospel - John 1.19-28

John

Chapter 1

¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, "Who are you?²⁰And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: "I am not the Christ.²¹And they questioned him: "Then what are you? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No.²²Therefore, they said to him: "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?²³He said, "I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.²⁴And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees²⁵And they questioned him and said to him, "Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?²⁶John answered them by saying: "I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know²⁷The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.²⁸These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the essence of our faith and the humility required to follow Christ. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and the necessity of remaining faithful amidst false teachings. It highlights the Holy Spirit’s role in guiding us and the promise of eternal life through our relationship with the Father and the Son. The Gospel reading presents John the Baptist, who, when questioned by religious leaders, humbly clarifies his role not as the Messiah but as a precursor, preparing the way for Jesus. His response underscores his humility and clarity in pointing others to Christ. These readings are interconnected through their focus on the identity of Jesus as the Christ and the call to remain faithful. John the Baptist’s humility and John’s epistle both serve as reminders to stay grounded in our faith, recognizing our role in pointing others to Jesus. The epistle warns against false teachings, encouraging us to abide in the truth, while John the Baptist’s testimony exemplifies humility and purpose in serving God’s plan. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain faithful, humble, and open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Just as John the Baptist knew his role, we too should recognize ours in God’s plan. The moral lesson here is the importance of fidelity to the truth and humility, trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide us. May we stay grounded in our faith, humbly serve, and point others to Christ, just as John the Baptist did.