Daily Readings - Sat Jan 06 2018
First Reading - 1 John 5.5-13
1 John
5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God6This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth7For there are Three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. And these Three are One8And there are three who give testimony on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And these three are one9If we accept the testimony of men, then the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater: that he has testified about his Son10Whoever believes in the Son of God, holds the testimony of God within himself. Whoever does not believe in the Son, makes him a liar, because he does not believe in the testimony which God has testified about his Son11And this is the testimony which God has given to us: Eternal Life. And this Life is in his Son12Whoever has the Son, has Life. Whoever does not have the Son, does not have Life13I am writing this to you, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God
Gospel - Mark 1.4-5, 7-11
Mark
4John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance, as a remission of sins5And there went out to him all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins7And he preached, saying: "One stronger than me comes after me. I am not worthy to reach down and loosen the laces of his shoes8I have baptized you with water. Yet truly, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.9And it happened that, in those days, Jesus arrived from Nazareth of Galilee. And he was baptized by John in the Jordan10And immediately, upon ascending from the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit, like a dove, descending, and remaining with him11And there was a voice from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful testimonies of faith and divine affirmation. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that true victory over the world comes through belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John highlights the threefold testimony of the Spirit, water, and blood, which all point to the reality of Christ’s divine mission. He reminds us that eternal life is found in the Son, and believing in Him gives us confidence in God’s promises. The Gospel from Mark vividly describes the baptism of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice declares Jesus as His beloved Son. This moment is a profound revelation of the Trinity and the divine seal of approval on Jesus’ mission.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the early Christian understanding of faith and identity. For John, writing to a community facing doubts and challenges, the emphasis is on the certainty of God’s testimony about His Son. Mark’s account of Jesus’ baptism serves as a foundational moment in His ministry, showing how God publicly affirms Jesus as the Messiah. Both readings intersect in their focus on testimony—whether from God or from the Spirit—and how this testimony shapes our understanding of who Jesus is and who we are as His followers.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on the foundation of our faith. Like the early believers, we are called to trust in God’s testimony about His Son, even when the world around us may seem uncertain. The baptism of Jesus reminds us that our own baptism is a sacramental testimony of God’s love and our adoption as His children. As we navigate life’s challenges, let us draw strength from the assurance that we have eternal life in Christ and that the Holy Spirit remains with us, guiding and empowering us to live as witnesses of God’s love. May we, like John the Baptist, humbly acknowledge our role in pointing others to the One who is greater, and may we embrace the truth that in Christ, we are beloved and pleasing to the Father.