NO ONE BORN OF GOD COMMITS SIN…

1 John 3:7-10
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.8 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.9 No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
10 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.

John 1:35-42 

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples;36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.38 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?”39 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.40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).42 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 ).

MEDITATION

St JOHN THE APOSTLE direct his epistle to recently baptized adult believers or neophytes calling them “children;” not to denigrate them, but reminding them to not commit sin precisely because they were “born of God!” John implicitly state that these converts who have been gifted with the nature and some attributes of God, aught not to denigrate or insult God by committing sin! Verse nine in no way shape or form imply nor suggest that a believer “cannot sin”as many fatuous evangelical pastors teach. To the contrary, believers are warned to avoid commiting all sinful acts or behavior!

THE GOSPEL READING: One day after Christs baptism in the Jordan river which saw a rush of people presenting themselves for baptism by Christ (Jn 3:26), John direct his two devout disciples, one being Andrew to follow Christ. Andrew in turn allert his brother Simon Peter who wasted no time being the first to encounter Christ, the wellspring or birthplace of mercy and forgiveness—supernatural gifts that flow from the Father. 

When Christ said “so you are Simon,” it is patently obvious that Christ knew Simon Bar-Jona long before he presented himself to be His disciple!” Simon Bar-Jona a fearless fisherman– said to be the most dangerous vocation on earth—was pre-chosen and called by Christ to be a fisher of men! The occasion of our baptism, was ‘the’ day when we had an encounter with Christ, such that He will never forget us, because our soul was seared by His grace, mercy and love. Since we have been “born anew” (Jn 3:3,7) at our baptism—our soul encoded with Christ—we are impelled to not commit sin, failing which we are expunging our name from the book of life! 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 98:1,7-9

1 A Psalm.
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days