Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2025
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 as children of God, we are called to live justly and lovingly, avoiding sin and embracing brotherly love. This letter, written to early Christians, underscores the importance of righteous living as a testament to our faith amidst challenges.
The Gospel of John recounts the initial calling of Jesus' disciples, highlighting the transformative encounter with Him. John the Baptist's testimony leads two disciples to Jesus, who invites them to experience His life firsthand. This encounter changes their lives, as seen in Andrew's eagerness to share the Good News with his brother Peter, illustrating the power of invitation and faith.
These readings connect through the call to live as children of God, following Jesus' teachings. Embracing our identity in God means living justly and lovingly, while being open to His call transforms our lives. Like Andrew, we are invited to "come and see," experiencing Jesus' presence and sharing this gift with others. May we discern our actions, align them with God's will, and joyfully invite others to encounter Christ, living as true children of God.