Daily Readings for January 5, 2018

1ST READING

God is the first to show compassion. As far back as creation, we see compassion as a major aspect of God’s love for us. He banished Adam and Eve from the Garden to ensure that they no longer eat the fruit from the tree of life and death. Having compromised their humanity to sin, God did not want them to be immortalized in this state of sin. He has forgiven us as early as the first sin of Adam and Eve and began to work for our salvation.

1 John 3:11-21

11 Beloved: This is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, 12 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. 13 Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 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. 17 If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? 18 Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him 20 in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God.

P S A L M

Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5

R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; 2 serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; give thanks to him; bless his name. (R) 5 The Lord is good: the Lord, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

GOSPEL

In today’s Gospel, Jesus also invites Philip and Nathanael to take a look at what the life of a disciple is about. Discipleship is a serious decision to make because we know this entails suffering. It will also make demands on us that may seem unfair. But look at Jesus – was it fair to Him to die on the cross? He chose to suffer for our sake. Let us ask ourselves: How serious am I about following Jesus? Have I thought about the consequences of being His disciple? Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads me?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.

John 1:43-51

43 Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. 45 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.” 46 But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 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.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 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.” 51 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.”