The First Reading is from the First letter of John chapter 3 verses 8 to 24
8 Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been
sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born of God do
not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they
have been born of God. 10 The children of God and the children of the devil
are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God,
nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters. 11 For this is the
message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another. 12 We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and
murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own
deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished,
brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have
passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not
love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and
you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to
lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet
refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in
truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth
and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn
us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before
God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his
commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his
Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All
who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by
this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
Hear the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Gospel reading is from John chapter 15 verses 1 to 8
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2 He removes
every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears
fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been
cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I
abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am
the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in
them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do
nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a
branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the
fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,
ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father
is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my
disciples.
For the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
