Daily Readings - Fri Dec 27 2019
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful testimonies of faith and the transformative power of the resurrection. The First Reading from 1 John emphasizes the reality of the Word of Life, incarnate in Jesus Christ, and the joy of fellowship that comes from sharing this truth. The Gospel from John vividly describes the discovery of the empty tomb by Peter and the other disciple, highlighting their journey from doubt to belief.
These passages are deeply connected, as both center on the theme of testimony and belief. John's letter serves as a testament to the reality of the Incarnation, while the Gospel narrative shows the disciples' personal encounter with the risen Christ. The empty tomb and the neatly arranged linens are signs that invite us to trust in God's Word and to experience the joy of new life in Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to the signs God places in our lives? Do we allow ourselves to be transformed by the power of the resurrection? Let us, like the disciples, approach life's challenges with courage and openness, trusting in God's plan. May we, too, see and believe, and may our lives bear witness to the joy and hope that only Christ can give.