Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2025
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 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.