Mass Readings for : Wednesday, 27th December, 2023

Liturgical Readings for : Wednesday, 27th December, 2023

12-27-St John, Apostle and Evangelist

St John was the brother of James, son of Zebedee and loved by Jesus. Thought to be the author of he fourth Gospel, the Book of Revelation and three letters in the new Testament. He died at Ephesus and in his latter days preached only one message : Love one another

FIRST READING

A reading from the first letter of John 1:1-4
What we have seen and heard we are telling you.

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.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96
Response Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.

1. The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, the many coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment; his throne, justice and right. Response

2. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory. Response

3. 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. Response

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 20:2-8 Glory to you, O Lord
The other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first.

On the first day of the week and still dark, when 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.

The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

***********************

Gospel Reflection 27th Dec. Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist John 20:2-8

Yesterday was the feast of Saint Stephen, today we celebrate the feast of Saint John, traditionally understood to be the author of the fourth gospel. Whereas Stephen was martyred as a young man, John, or the disciple Jesus loved, as he is referred to in today’s gospel reading, seems to have lived a long life. Like Stephen, the beloved disciple was a wonderful witness to Jesus. Yet, whereas Stephen witnessed to Jesus primarily by his death, the beloved disciple witnessed to Jesus primarily by his life. He was the eye witness who was close to Jesus in love and who witnessed to what he had seen and heard by his preaching and teaching, and eventually by inspiring the writing down of the fourth gospel. In this gospel the beloved disciple is described as close to the bosom of Jesus at the last supper. The opening verses of John’s gospel, the Prologue, describe Jesus as close to the bosom of the Father. In other words, this disciple has the same loving relationship with Jesus that Jesus has with God the Father. The beloved disciple is the disciple we can all become. We are all invited to have the same intimate relationship with Jesus that Jesus has with the Father. In the words of the fourth gospel, we are called to abide in Jesus’ love just as he abides in the love of the Father. If Christmas is the feast of Immanuel, God with us through Jesus, today’s feast reminds us that we are called to be with Jesus as he is with the Father, to be present to him in love as he is present to the Father in love.