Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2020
1 John
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
John
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 identity and discipleship. The first reading from 1 John reminds us that our actions reflect our true nature as children of God. John emphasizes that those born of God do not sin and are recognized by their justice and love. This letter, written to early Christians, addresses the struggle against sin, urging believers to live according to their divine identity.
The Gospel from John illustrates the initial steps of discipleship. John the Baptist directs his followers to Jesus, leading them to a personal encounter with Him. Andrew's eagerness to share this discovery with his brother Peter exemplifies the call to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This narrative highlights the transformative power of encountering Christ, as seen in Peter's renaming, symbolizing a new identity in faith.
In our daily lives, recognizing our identity as God's children should inspire us to live justly and avoid sin. Following Jesus involves more than belief; it requires commitment and sharing our faith with others. Like Andrew, we are called to bring others to Christ, trusting in His transformative power. Our actions, rooted in love and justice, reflect our true identity as children of God, leading to a life of purpose and spiritual growth.