Daily Readings - Thu Dec 27 2018
1 John
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
John
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.