Reading 1 1 Jn 2:22-28
Beloved:
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Alleluia Heb 1:1-2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.In times past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 1:19-28
This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
REELECTION
"WHAT IS TRUTH?" (see Jn 18:38)
"I have written you these things about those who try to deceive you." –1 John 2:26
"Who is the liar?" (1 Jn 2:22) Satan is "the father of lies...the truth is not in him" (Jn 8:44). Our secular culture believes the lies Satan is constantly feeding them:
- You won't go to hell; there is no hell. In fact there is no sin. If it feels good, do it.
- Sexual acts outside of marriage are not a sin; everyone does them.
- Marriage is not just between one man and one woman and "same-sex" marriage is legal, therefore, it's not sinful and actually it's right. In fact, you are hateful and intolerant to hold any other viewpoint.
- A fetus is just a blob of tissue – aborting it is no different than cutting off a mole from your skin.
- It's not a grave sin to skip Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. All of your friends only go on Christmas and Easter.
There are many similar deceptions, falsehoods, and outright lies.
St. Paul cried when thinking of the "savage wolves" who would deceive his Christian flock (Acts 20:29, 31). Countless martyrs died for the truths that the Church teaches. If these truths were not important, why would people give their lives to defend them? If sin was no big deal, why did Jesus die for our sins?
Jesus, "the Truth" (Jn 14:6), "came into the world...to testify to the truth" (Jn 18:37). Learn what the Catholic Church teaches, for it guards the truth. "The truth will set you free" (Jn 8:32).
| PRAYER: | Father, may I act "only for the sake of the truth" (2 Cor 13:8) and thus make straight Your way in the world (Jn 1:23). |
| PROMISE: | "He Himself made us a promise and the promise is no less than this: eternal life." –1 Jn 2:25 |
| PRAISE: | Sts. Basil and Gregory were hermits who were both led to become great teachers. |
No comments:
Post a Comment