Reading 1 1 Jn 2:29-3:6
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6
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.
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.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Gospel Jn 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
Meditation: Psalm 98:1,3-6
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“Sing a new song to the Lord!” Psalm 98:1)
Yes, sing! Sing joyfully. Sing joy, fully. God has done wonder ful things in the past year—things we will know completely only when we are with him in heaven. Still, we can sing joyfully because we know he is all-good, all the time. He is all-wise and all-loving. Even though we don’t always see what he is doing, we know it is good and loving and wise. So sing! Sing thankfully, boldly, with all the praise and joy you can muster.
Sing joyfully about what you hope and expect him to do this new year. God has plans for your life. No matter what age you are, it’s never too late for the good things he has in store for you. Ask him for a new song—a word, or phrase, or Scripture passage, or even a real song—to give you direction for the year. He is the Good Shepherd, who loves and leads you. He will guide you in the paths he has planned for you and give you a new song to sing along the way.
Sing aloud, yes, but don’t limit yourself to what your voice can do. Sing with your pen. Write down what you want to praise the Lord for. Jot down your hopes, dreams, desires for this year. Sing with your paint brush—paint your praise, joy, and thanksgiving. Sing with your musical instrument or your feet. Dance, as David did before the ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:5,16). We are wonderfully made, so we can praise the Lord in song or with any of the other talents he has given us.
What do you love to do? Do it intentionally today, as a way to express your joy, praise, and awe of the Lord. As you begin, tell the Lord, “This is for you, God!” And “Beloved, we are God’s children!” —1 John 3:2 if you find it too difficult, ask the Holy Spirit to put a new song in your heart. Ask him for a song that is not there now, one that perhaps has never been there. You are cre ated to sing before the Lord. Be expectant. He will teach you what to do and how to do it!
“Father, you are wonderful and loving and kind. Fill me with a new song today, a song of joy and hope.”
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