Daily Readings - Mon Dec 27 2021
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 gift of faith. In the first reading from 1 John, we hear a beautiful testimony to the Word of Life. John writes of the eternal life that has been revealed in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the tangible experience of encountering the risen Lord. He speaks of seeing, hearing, and touching the Word of Life, and he invites us to share in this fellowship with the Father and the Son. This passage reminds us that our faith is rooted in the eyewitness accounts of those who walked with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection.
The Gospel from John 20 brings us to the empty tomb, where the disciples encounter the reality of the resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s distress at finding the tomb empty gives way to the disciples’ curiosity and faith. The beloved disciple, upon seeing the linens and the cloth folded separately, believes. This moment is a powerful reminder that faith often begins with doubt or uncertainty but can lead to profound trust in God’s plan. The empty tomb is not just a historical event but a symbol of the new life offered to us through Christ’s resurrection.
These readings call us to embrace our role as witnesses to the resurrection in our own lives. Just as John testified to the Word of Life and the disciples believed at the empty tomb, we are called to share the joy of the Gospel with others. In a world often filled with doubt and fear, we are invited to be bearers of hope and light. Let us ask ourselves: How do we share the Good News in our daily lives? How do we allow the resurrection to transform our relationships, our struggles, and our joys? May we, like the disciples, find the courage to believe and the grace to proclaim the eternal life that has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ.