First Letter of John 3,11-21.
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. Do not be amazed, (then,) brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (Now) this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God
Psalms 100(99),1-2.3.4.5.
A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whosepeople we are, God's well-tended flock.
Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name;
good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,43-51.
The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
PROOF IS IN THE LOVE
"That we have passed from death to life we know because we love the brothers." –1 John 3:14
We Christians say that we are new people filled with the Spirit, but we all have a history of self-deception. How do we know that we have passed from death to life? We know that we are no longer "among the living dead" (1 Jn 3:14), but are alive in Christ because of our love for the brothers and sisters. We love them so much that by God's grace we will even lay down our lives for them (1 Jn 3:16). Our love for other Christians is so practical that we provide for their needs at our own expense (1 Jn 3:17).
This love for other Christians extends to our neighbors (see Mt 22:39) and even to our enemies (Mt 5:44). To love everyone this deeply under any circumstances is humanly impossible and truly divine. This proves that we have received a new nature (see Jn 3:3), become new creations (see Gal 6:15), and are disciples of Jesus (Jn 13:35).
Has this Christmas season been further proof that God Himself and eternal life abide in your hearts? (see 1 Jn 3:15) If not, repent and end the Christmas season loving with a divine love.
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