FIRST READING
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 3:7-10)
“He cannot sin because he is born of God.”
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. Any one born of God does not commit sin; for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 98: 1.7-9ab-9cd (R. 3cd)
R/. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. R/.
Let the sea and all within it thunder;
the world, and those who dwell in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and the hills ring out their joy.
At the presence of the Lord,
for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. R/.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the peoples with fairness. R/.
ALLELUIA Hebrews 1 : 1-2
Alleluia. Alleluia. In many and various ways God spoke of old by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:35-42)
“We have found the Messiah”
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He 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).
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
“The Lamb of God” (John 1:36) is a Christological title presenting Jesus as the one who shall be sacrificed for our salvation. This sacrifice take away our sin, which is the source of our misfortunes and pains. The disciples of John, after hearing this, went to Jesus, confirmed the good news and remained with Jesus. Nobody can stay with Jesus and still remain in sin. Hence the evangelist John tells those of us who are also introduced to this good news to remain sinless if we are to continue sharing in his salvific mission. If we remain in him and him in us, He will lead us to bear fruit in abundance.