January 10, 2015

Reading

The First Letter of St. John   5: 14-21

5:14	And this is the confidence which we have toward God: that no matter what we shall request, in accord with his will, he hears us.
5:15	And we know that he hears us, no matter what we request; so we know that we can obtain the things that we request of him.
5:16	Anyone who realizes that his brother has sinned, with a sin that is not unto death, let him pray, and life shall be given to him who has sinned not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death. I am not saying that anyone should ask on behalf of that sin.
5:17	All that is iniquity is sin. But there is a sin unto death.
5:18	We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin. Instead, rebirth in God preserves him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
5:19	We know that we are of God, and that the entire world is established in wickedness.
5:20	And we know that the Son of God has arrived, and that he has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God, and so that we may remain in his true Son. This is the true God, and this is Eternal Life.
5:21	Little sons, keep yourselves from false worship. Amen.

Gospel

John    3: 22-30

3:22 After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. And he was living there with them and baptizing.

3:23 Now John was also baptizing, at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water in that place. And they were arriving and being baptized.

3:24 For John had not yet been cast into prison.

3:25 Then a dispute occurred between the disciples of John and the Jews, about purification.

3:26 And they went to John and said to him: “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, about whom you offered testimony: behold, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.”

3:27 John responded and said: “A man is not able to receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven.

3:28 You yourselves offer testimony for me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but that I have been sent before him.

3:29 He who holds the bride is the groom. But the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to Him, rejoices joyfully at the voice of the groom. And so, this, my joy, has been fulfilled.

3:30 He must increase, while I must decrease.