January 5, 2004. Memorial of St. John Newman, Bishop.

A reading from the first letter of St. John.

Beloved, this is the message you have heard from the beginning.

We should love one another, 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.

Do not be amazed then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

We know that we have passed from death to life

because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his

brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

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.

If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God

remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth. Now this is how we

shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts

condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do

not condemn us, we have confidence in God. The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm

The response is

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy

Sing joyfully to the Lord all you lands

Serve the Lord with gladness

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