Daily Readings - Sat Jan 04 2020
1 John
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
John
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"39"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).42And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is 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.