First reading 1 John 1:1-4
The Word, who is life – this is our subject
Something which has existed since the beginning,
that we have heard,
and we have seen with our own eyes;
that we have watched
and touched with our hands:
the Word, who is life –
this is our subject.
That life was made visible:
we saw it and we are giving our testimony,
telling you of the eternal life
which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.
What we have seen and heard
we are telling you
so that you too may be in union with us,
as we are in union
with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.
Responsorial Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
Light shines forth for the just
and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;
give glory to his holy name.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
Gospel John 20:2-8
The other disciple saw, and he believed
On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
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He run, saw, believed
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, who is also known as “the one whom Jesus loved”. In the gospel, Mary Magdalene told Peter and John about the empty tomb. Their first reaction was to run to the tomb because nothing else mattered. John ran faster because he was enthusiastic about being where His Master was. Often we tend to procrastinate and forget to simply “run” to Jesus with the eagerness to be with Him. May we keep going to Jesus everyday in prayer, in the silence of our heart and have this eagerness to stay with Him in the ups and downs of life.
When John saw the empty tomb, “he saw and he believed”. John saw and believed even though he did not fully understand what was happening. Today, Jesus calls us to see and believe that He is alive and is present with us in the routines of each day, in the presence of others, in moments of difficulties and times of happiness. Let us renew ourselves in Jesus’ love today!
Question for reflection:
What is Jesus’ message for me today?
What is Jesus’ message for me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.
