Daily Readings - Wed Dec 27 2017
First Reading - 1 John 1.1-4
1 John
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Gospel - John 20.2-8
John
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, 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.