1st Reading: 1 Jn 1:1-4
Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
Gospel: Jn 20:1a and 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.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD: Every disciple of Christ is expected to be an evangelist. An evangelist proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ to others. St. John bears witness to Jesus, and urges us to bear witness to Jesus and the salvation that he has brought. He saw and believed and shares with us what he witnessed and believed. Through his witness, we have come to know Jesus and believed in him. St. John bears witness to Jesus’ divinity, humanity, and the salvation that Jesus has brought, so that we may come to believe and have a “fellowship … with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). In this way, he is a great evangelist whom we are called to imitate. If we are truly the Disciples of Christ, and our lifestyle is driving people away or preventing people from coming to Christ, then we are not evangelists. In such a situation, we should think twice about our discipleship.
Prayer: Lord, make all Christians to become your faithful evangelizers.
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LOVED DISCIPLE: Today we celebrate the feast of St. John. He is mentioned as the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. It can be interpreted that the name of this disciple is not mentioned because he represents all the believers including us. He was loved by Jesus. He sat close to the heart of Jesus in the last supper. We recall when Jesus said, “one of you would betray me”. While all the disciples asked “Is it I Lord?”, John asked, “Who is itt?” This shows his innocence. He was at the foot of the cross along with Mother Mary. He saw the empty tomb and believed. He wrote about his experience of Jesus so that our joy may be complete. Let us ask ourselves what we have learnt from John’s work.
PRAYER: Lord, give me your grace to be your loved disciple.
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STANDING UP FOR THE MASTER: John the Evangelist speaks of the fellowship of the believers. He presents his personal testimony in order to build the fellowship which extends to God the Father and His Son. “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 Jn: 4). Real joy is in building relationships, fellowship, not in wealth and riches. Being wealthy is just having things in excess. John, “The disciple whom Jesus loved” ( Jn 21: 20), was eager to share his experiences to the world. Remember he was also one of Jesus’ inner circles, who stayed close to him through all important moments. A true disciple is someone who is able to sift and separate what is important and significant from the accidentals. John was not just another of the twelve. He believed in Jesus deeply, he witnessed the resurrection from close quarters and was restless until he powerfully brought it to the world. May we draw from the example of John who loved to the extent of laying down his life.
DAILY GOSPEL 