The First Letter of John

A reading from the First Letter of the Apostle John Jn 1-2:3

Word of life and light of God

This is what we proclaim to you:

what was from the beginning,

what we have heard,

what we have seen with our eyes,

what we have looked upon

and our hands have touched -

we speak of the word of life.

(This life became visible;

we have seen and bear witness to it,

and we proclaim to you the eternal life

that was present to the Father

and became visible to us.)

What we have seen and heard

we proclaim in turn to you

so that you may share life with us.

This fellowship of ours is with the Father

and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Indeed, our purpose in writing you this

is that our joy may be complete.

Here, then, is the message

we have heard from him

and announce to you:

that God is light;

in him there is no darkness.

If we say, “We have fellowship with him,”

while continuing to walk in darkness,

we are liars and do not act in truth.

But if we walk in light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

If we say, “We are free of the guilt of sin,”

we deceive ourselves; the truth is not to be found in us.

But if we acknowledge our sins,

he who is just can be trusted

to forgive our sins

and cleanse us from every wrong.

If we say, “We have never sinned,”

we make him a liar

and his word finds no place in us.

My little ones,

I am writing this to keep you from sin.

But if anyone should sin,

we have, in the presence of the Father,

Jesus Christ, an intercessor who is just.

He is an offering for our sins,

and not for our sins only,

but for those of the whole world.

The way we can be sure of our knowledge of him,

is to keep his commandments.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings