Pray for them sinners

In today’s first reading (1 John 5:14-21), St. John has intriguing words about “deadly sin” and prayer.

If anyone sees his brother sinning,
if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God
and he will give him life.

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.

All wrongdoing is sin,
but there is sin that is not deadly.

This passage resonates with the traditional distinction between mortal (i.e. deadly) and venial sins (cf CCC 1854).

This passage also emphasizes the importance of intercessory prayer, especially in the most important of matters: a person’s journey in Christ away from sin and into the fullness of life in God.

We are not alone in this journey. We can and must support each other in many ways, but most especially by our explicit prayers for each other.

Likewise, through the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we as individuals have great comfort and help in each other: in our fellow members in the body of Christ and the communion of saints.

Let us pray for each other.

Oremus pro invicem.