Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
First Reading: 1 John 1:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97
Gospel: John 20:1a, 2-8
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. (Jn 20:1a, 2-8)
How is your faith? Is it so much that you believe in the resurrection? Does it make you want to go out and share the gospel with others? Does it move you to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?
Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint John, the "one whom Jesus loved." When Jesus had died, John, like the other apostles were grief stricken. They couldn't believe that He was gone, and I am sure that they were really questioning things. But once John stepped inside that empty tomb, all doubts and fear disappeared, because we are told "he saw and believed." In that instant John's faith moved him to believe and to trust in all that Christ had told them. This new found faith also moved him to spend the rest of his life spreading the good news about Christ and the hope that comes with serving Jesus. We read in the first reading today that this sharing the faith and fellowship is what made his joy complete.
Each of our lives has a purpose. Our most basic purpose is to love God and one another. We can show great love to each other by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and by proclaiming His great love and mercy to all those we come into contact with. May our faith in God move each of us to share the good news as John and all the other apostles did.
Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to serve you with all that we are. We praise you and thank you for the great gift of life, help us to be good stewards of the life you have entrusted to us. We pray for all those who have fallen away, may they be brought back to your safe and loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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