God's mercy and forgiveness are needed

This divine gift, freely offered through grace.

Trust in Jesus: For Christians, trusting in Jesus' sacrifice

is the ultimate source of mercy and forgivenes. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6

He said to me,

"You are Israel, my servant. Through you I will be known." And now Yahweh has spoken,

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him.

He said: "It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel.

I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth."

 

Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 (8,9a)

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Sosthenes, our brother,

to God's Church which is in Corinth; to you, whom God has sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called, to be holy, together,

with those, who, everywhere, call upon the name of our Lord Christ Jesus, their Lord and ours.

Receive grace, and peace from God, our Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 1:29-34

The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me, who is already ahead of me, for he was before me.

I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel."

And John also gave this testimony, "I saw the Spirit coming down on him, like a dove from heaven, and resting on him.

I myself did not know him, but God, who sent me to baptize, told me, 'You will see the Spirit coming down,

and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Yes, I have seen! And declare that this is the Chosen One of God!"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina

God's mercy and forgiveness are needed.

Read: God called the prophet to be his servant, to gather the lost children of God, and to be a light to the nations.

In the second reading, Paul presents himself as the apostle called by God to minister to God's people.

And John the Baptist declared in the gospel that Jesus is the ultimate servant of God,

"There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world."

 

Reflect: In saving His people, God called ministers to share in this work. In the old days,

he had Israel's leaders and prophets. Until he finally sent his Son Jesus to become one like us

and establish God's reign here on earth. Jesus offered himself as the sacrificial lamb for our salvation.

But the mission continues until he comes again.

It is now in our hands to carry on the mission for which we have been baptized.

 

We are living in a world where the darkness of hatred, war, greed, and indifference is growing.

More and more, God's mercy and forgiveness are needed.

Each of us is called to be an instrument for God's goodness and love to prevail.

 

Pray: Lord, send me your Spirit and empower me to share your light with our darkened world.

 

Act: Lend a hand, open your heart, and share your gift with someone in need today.