13th Week of Pentecost readings Tuesday

1 John 2:1-11
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as he lived. Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Luke 14:1-6
On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

Jesus is called oyr Advocate and Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as, “another advocate.” Yet, we are called both to avoid sin and to love others. When we fail we turn for mercy, but we are not called to continual failures. An advocate is called upon not only when one gets into trouble, but also to keep us out of trouble. We should call upon Jesus at the time of temptation ro preserve ua from sin and at the start of each day that we might love others.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
God of goodness,
you have promised your heavenly treasures to those who are
good.
Grant us the rewards you assured the laborers of the eleventh hour,
who sincerely believe in you and acknowledge you.
Count us among those invited to your spiritual banquet,
and grant us a place at your right hand.
Then, clothed in resplendent apparel,
we shall joyfully go out to meet you with deeds of love,
and receive from you the happiness you promised to those who
do good.
We shall praise and glorify you,
now and forever.
Amen.