SECOND READING

Second Reading

1 John 3:18-24 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St John

His commandments are these: that we believe and that we love one another.

My children,

our love is not to be just words or mere talk,

but something real and active;

only by this can we be certain

that we are the children of the truth

and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence,

whatever accusations it may raise against us,

because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.

My dear people,

if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,

we need not be afraid in God's presence,

and whatever we ask him,

we shall receive,

because we keep his commandments

and live the kind of life that he wants.

His commandments are these:

that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ

and that we love one another

as he told us to.

Whoever keeps his commandments

lives in God and God lives in him.

We know that he lives in us

by the Spirit that he has given us.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.