Daily Readings - Fri Dec 27 2024
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 God’s revelation and the transformative power of faith. In the First Reading from 1 John, we hear a beautiful proclamation of the Word of Life, Jesus Christ, who has been seen, heard, and touched by the apostles. John emphasizes that this Life is not distant or abstract but has been made manifest in the flesh. The purpose of this testimony is to invite us into fellowship—with God and with one another—so that our joy may be complete. This passage reminds us that our faith is rooted in the tangible, historical reality of Jesus, the Eternal Life who came among us.
In the Gospel, we witness the dramatic discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple. The scene unfolds with a sense of urgency and confusion, as Mary initially believes the body has been taken. However, when the disciples arrive, they find the tomb empty, with the linens carefully folded. For the Beloved Disciple, this sight is enough to prompt faith—he sees and believes. This passage highlights the interplay between doubt and faith, as well as the significance of the resurrection as the cornerstone of our Christian hope. The empty tomb is not just a historical event but a living symbol of God’s power to overcome death and darkness.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not blind but rooted in the testimony of those who encountered Christ. Like the Beloved Disciple, we are called to “see and believe,” even when the circumstances of life seem uncertain. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a past event but a present reality that transforms us. In our daily lives, we are invited to live with the same joy and fellowship that John describes. Let us approach the challenges and mysteries of life with the courage of Peter and the faith of the Beloved Disciple, trusting that the Risen Lord is always with us, filling our hearts with joy and our lives with purpose.