Seeking, Savoring, & Sharing God (Readings for Dec. 27, 2018, annotated)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What the passages tell us to do

Commentary

Reading 1 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.

We are offered fellowship with the eternally existing Word; God Himself.

We receive joy when we share/make that fellowship available to others.

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

This describes the wonderful nature of the Word, as referred to in the first reading, and the proper response to the wonderful gift of fellowship with Him.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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. 

This describes the intensity and details of the disciples' seeking after the Word:

Seeking after Jesus with intensity & alacrity.

Seeking counsel/community about how to find/serve Him.

Believing in the face of the difficult/unexpected/not fully understood.