Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2020
1 John
7Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.8Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.9No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.10By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
John
35The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,36and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"39He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.40One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means 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.