Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 John 4 : 15 - 5 : 4
Chapter 4
15 | Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
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16 | And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
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17 | Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
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18 | There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
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19 | We love Him because He first loved us.
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20 | If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
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21 | And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
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Chapter 5
1 | Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
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2 | By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
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3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
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4 | For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.