Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 27, 2018

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

Psalms

Chapter 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

John

Chapter 20

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of the resurrection and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from 1 John, we are reminded that the apostles were eyewitnesses to the life and resurrection of Jesus. They testified to the Word of Life, who was from the beginning, and they shared this truth with the world so that others might have fellowship with God and with one another. This passage emphasizes the importance of bearing witness to the truth and the joy that comes from sharing in the life of God. In the Gospel, we see the unfolding drama of the resurrection through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and the disciples. Mary’s initial confusion and grief give way to the disciples’ curiosity and eventual belief. The Beloved Disciple, upon entering the tomb and seeing the empty linens, believes. This moment is a turning point, as the disciples begin to understand that Jesus has risen. The empty tomb is not just a historical event but a symbol of the new life offered to us through Christ. Just as the disciples were called to believe without seeing, we too are invited to trust in the power of the resurrection, even when we cannot fully understand or see the whole picture. These readings remind us that faith is not just about intellectual assent but about a lived relationship with God. Just as the apostles testified to the Word of Life, we are called to bear witness to the resurrection in our own lives. This means living with hope, even in the face of uncertainty, and trusting in God’s plan. The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a living reality that transforms us and calls us to share the joy of new life with others. Let us ask for the grace to believe deeply in the resurrection and to live in a way that reflects the hope and joy that it brings.