💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 10 💖

First Reading - 1 John 5:14-21 

Gospel - John 3:22-30

One of the quiet struggles of faith is learning when to hold on and when to let go. We pray, we act, we care deeply, yet we are not always sure how much depends on us and how much we must entrust to God. Today’s readings speak into that tension and offer a liberating truth: confidence in God grows when our lives become less about control and more about trust.

The First Reading from 1 John is filled with calm assurance. John tells believers that they can approach God with confidence, not because they are perfect, but because they live in relationship with God. Prayer is not persuading a reluctant God; it is aligning ourselves with God’s will. This confidence does not lead to arrogance, but to peace. John also warns against idols—not only carved images, but anything that quietly takes God’s place in our hearts. An idol is whatever promises security or meaning apart from God. Faith matures when we recognize these false anchors and choose trust instead.

This prepares us for the Gospel from John, which gives us a striking example of spiritual freedom in the words of John the Baptist. Some of his followers are uneasy. Jesus is attracting attention. John’s influence seems to be fading. From a human perspective, this could feel like failure or loss. But John responds with deep clarity and joy. A person can receive only what is given from heaven. Then he speaks words that reveal the heart of true discipleship: he must increase; I must decrease.

These words are not about self-neglect or insecurity. They are about right relationship. John knows who he is, and he knows who Jesus is. Because of that, he is free. He does not cling to recognition. He does not compete. He rejoices that God’s work is moving forward, even if it no longer centers on him. His joy is complete precisely because he is no longer trying to be at the center.

Dear friends, today's readings teach us that spiritual confidence does not come from being indispensable. It comes from belonging. When we know that our lives are held by God, we are freed from the need to control outcomes, to prove our worth, or to fear being overshadowed. We pray with trust. We act with humility. We step back when God asks us to do so.

Many people struggle with the need to be noticed, needed, or validated. Others fear becoming irrelevant or forgotten. Faith does not remove these feelings overnight, but it gives us a new perspective. Our value is not measured by visibility or success. It is rooted in being loved by God and participating, in our own way, in God’s work.

The invitation today is gentle but challenging. Pray with confidence, not anxiety. Let go of what is not yours to carry. Examine what may have quietly taken God’s place in your heart. And learn the freedom of John’s joy—the joy of knowing that God’s plan does not depend on your control, but welcomes your trust.

When we allow Christ to increase in our lives, fear decreases. When we stop clinging to false securities, peace grows. And when we learn to step aside with trust, we discover that our joy, like John’s, can finally be complete.