Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 27, 2017
First Reading: 1 John 1.1-4
1He who was from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our eyes, upon whom we have gazed, and whom our hands have certainly touched: He is the Word of Life2And that Life has been made manifest. And we have seen, and we testify, and we announce to you: the Eternal Life, who was with the Father, and who appeared to us3He whom we have seen and heard, we announce to you, so that you, too, may have fellowship with us, and so that our fellowship may be with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ4And this we write to you, so that you may rejoice, and so that your joy may be full
Psalm 97
1This is to David, when his land was restored to him. The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. Let the many islands rejoice2Clouds and mist are all around him. Justice and judgment are corrections from his throne3A fire will precede him, and it will enflame his enemies all around4His lightnings have enlightened the whole world. The earth saw, and it was shaken5The mountains flowed like wax before the face of the Lord, before the face of the Lord of all the earth6The heavens announced his justice, and all peoples saw his glory7May all those who adore graven images be confounded, along with those who glory in their false images. All you his Angels: Adore him8Zion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Judah exulted because of your judgments, O Lord9For you are the Most High Lord over all the earth. You are greatly exalted above all gods10You who love the Lord: hate evil. The Lord watches over the souls of his holy ones. He will free them from the hand of the sinner11The light has risen for the just, and joy for the upright of heart12Rejoice in the Lord, you just ones, and confess to the memory of his sanctuary
Gospel: John 20.2-8
2Therefore, she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, "They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.3Therefore, Peter departed with the other disciple, and they went to the tomb4Now they both ran together, but the other disciple ran more quickly, ahead of Peter, and so he arrived at the tomb first5And when he bowed down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not yet enter6Then Simon Peter arrived, following him, and he entered the tomb, and he saw the linen cloths lying there7and the separate cloth which had been over his head, not placed with the linen cloths, but in a separate place, wrapped up by itself8Then the other disciple, who had arrived first at the tomb, also entered. And he saw and believed
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on belief and fellowship. The first reading from 1 John emphasizes the reality of the Word of Life, incarnate in Jesus Christ, and the fellowship we share with God and one another through Him. The Gospel from John recounts the discovery of the empty tomb by Peter and the beloved disciple, highlighting their journey from doubt to belief upon witnessing the signs of the resurrection.
The context of 1 John suggests a community grappling with false teachings, where the author reaffirms the truth of the incarnation and the joy of communion with God. In John's Gospel, the empty tomb narrative serves as a pivotal moment in the disciples' journey, illustrating the transition from confusion to faith. The beloved disciple's belief upon seeing the empty tomb underscores the power of encountering God's presence.
These readings connect through the theme of belief and testimony. Just as the disciples were transformed by their encounter with the empty tomb, we too are called to trust in God's revelation. In our daily lives, we encounter signs of God's presence, and like the disciples, we must respond with faith. The moral lesson here is the importance of trusting in God's revelation and living in fellowship with Him, allowing His presence to transform our lives.