Daily Readings - Thu Dec 27 2018
1 John
1That 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;2For 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;)3That 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.4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
John
2Then 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.3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, 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.