First Reading

Reading from the first letter of the apostle Saint John 

1 John 2:18-21

My children: This is the last hour. You have heard that the antichrist was coming; well, many antichrists have already appeared, which is how we know that it is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they were not really of our number; for if they had been of our number, they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it would be revealed that none of them were of our number.

As for you, the anointing you received from the Holy Spirit remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Gospel

Beginning of the holy Gospel according to Saint John 

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

The real light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.