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 at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.4We write this to make our joy complete.
John
2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. 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.