First Reading

Reading from the first letter of the apostle Saint John

1 John 5:5-13

Beloved: Who is the victor over the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the one who came through water and blood, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So they are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord.

If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. And this is the testimony of God: he has testified to his Son.

Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 5:12-16

At that time, while Jesus was in one of the towns, a leper came to him. As he saw Jesus, he bowed before him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him at once. Then Jesus ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed. That will be proof for them.”

His fame spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.