Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2020
1 John
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
John
35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
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.