Daily Mass Readings – Saturday, 2 January 2027

22 Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.

24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.

26 These things have I written to you, concerning them that seduce you.

27 And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

1 Sing ye to the Lord anew canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

3ab He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

3cd All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1-2 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.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No.

22 They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.

24 And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

26 John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.

27 The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose.

28 These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The readings place us before the truth at the center of faith: Jesus is the Christ, the Son through whom the Father gives us eternal life. John the Baptist understands his own identity by standing in relation to him. He refuses titles that do not belong to him and calls himself only a voice preparing the Lord’s way. His humility becomes a clear witness because it directs attention away from himself and toward the One already present among the people.

We, too, remain faithful by abiding in what we have heard from the beginning: the truth revealed in the Son. The anointing we have received teaches us to remain in Christ rather than be carried away by voices that deny or distort him. The psalm celebrates that God has made his saving power known to all the earth, and the Alleluia proclaims that God has spoken definitively through his Son. Our daily witness need not be impressive. It can be as simple and honest as John’s: confess Christ, prepare his way through our choices, and let our lives point beyond ourselves to God’s mercy.

Lord Jesus, Son of the Father, keep me faithful to the truth I have received. Let your Spirit’s anointing guard my heart from confusion and help me abide in you. Give me John’s humility, so that I do not seek attention for myself but gladly point others toward your saving presence. Make straight the paths of my life through repentance, honesty, and obedience. May my words and actions help reveal your mercy and salvation, especially where faith is weak or forgotten. Keep me close to you until the day of your coming, when I may stand before you with confidence. Amen.