Daily Readings - Wed Dec 27 2023
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 Christ’s resurrection and the gift of life that flows from it. In the first reading from 1 John, we hear a beautiful testimony to the Word of Life—Jesus Christ—who has been revealed to us. John emphasizes that this life is not a distant or abstract concept but something tangible and personal, something we can see, hear, and even touch. He invites us to share in this divine life by entering into fellowship with God and with one another. This fellowship is the very source of our joy, and it is through this communion that we experience the fullness of life.
In the Gospel, we witness the dramatic moment when Peter and the other disciple discover the empty tomb. The details of the scene—the linen cloths lying flat, the separate cloth folded apart—are signs that speak of something extraordinary. The disciple who arrives first sees and believes, not just in the absence of Jesus’ body, but in the reality of his resurrection. This moment marks a turning point, as the disciples begin to understand that Jesus’ promise of eternal life is not a distant hope but a present reality. The empty tomb is not just a sign of absence but a testament to the power of God, who has overcome death itself.
These readings remind us that faith is rooted in testimony and experience. Just as the disciples were called to witness the empty tomb, we too are called to bear witness to the risen Christ in our lives. This means living with hope, trusting in God’s plan even when the path is uncertain, and sharing the joy of the Gospel with others. Let us allow the resurrection to transform us, to fill us with the same joy and wonder that filled the hearts of the disciples. May we, like John, proclaim the Word of Life to a world in need, and may our fellowship with God and with one another be the source of our strength and our joy.