Daily Readings - Thu Jan 04 2018

First Reading - 1 John 3.7-10

⁷Little sons, let no one deceive you. Whoever does justice is just, even as he also is just⁸Whoever commits sin is of the devil. For the devil sins from the beginning. For this reason, the Son of God appeared, so that he might eradicate the works of the devil⁹All those who have been born of God do not commit sin. For the offspring of God abides in them, and he is not able to sin, because he was born of God¹⁰In this way, the sons of God are made manifest, and also the sons of the devil. Everyone who is not just, is not of God, as also anyone who does not love his brother

Gospel - John 1.35-42

John

Chapter 1

³⁵The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples³⁶And catching sight of Jesus walking, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God.³⁷And two disciples were listening to him speaking. And they followed Jesus³⁸Then Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi (which means in translation, Teacher), where do you live?³⁹He said to them, "Come and see." They went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour⁴⁰And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard about him from John and had followed him⁴¹First, he found his brother Simon, and he said to him, "We have found the Messiah," (which is translated as the Christ)⁴²And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, gazing at him, said: "You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas," (which is translated as Peter)

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore themes of righteousness, sin, and the transformative encounter with Jesus. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes that those born of God do not sin because His seed abides in them. John distinguishes between the sons of God and the sons of the devil, urging us to live justly and love our brothers. The Gospel from John illustrates this through the story of John the Baptist directing his disciples to Jesus. The disciples follow Jesus, spend time with Him, and Andrew introduces his brother Peter, who is transformed by the encounter. The context of 1 John is a letter to early Christians, encouraging righteous living and love. The Gospel scene is set in the early days of Jesus' ministry, showing how His presence calls and transforms individuals. Both readings connect by highlighting the call to live according to God's will and the impact of encountering Jesus, which leads to transformation and sharing the Good News with others. Applying this to daily life, we are reminded to examine our actions and strive for justice, recognizing sin's presence. Like Andrew, we should invite others to experience Jesus. The moral lesson is clear: our actions reflect our relationship with God. Following Jesus and allowing His presence to transform us is key. Just as Peter was renamed, our encounter with Jesus should lead to a new life of love and service, embodying our identity as God's children.