ST. JOHN, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

We praise you, O God,
we acknowledge you to be the Lord.
The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

1 JOHN 1:1-4 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

How blessed we are to have been chosen by God and to be given the gift of faith in You whom the Father sent into the world to reveal Himself to us. You came into the world to show us the Face of the Father, to know that He is Love and You became Love in Incarnate in the Flesh. You came to show us the Way back to the Father's house after our first parents sinned and lost paradise.

The Apostles You chose lived with You, walked with You, were taught by You, they ate, drank, and spent time with the Word of Life made Flesh. This is the Flesh that You received from Your Virgin Mother and this is the same Flesh that we eat every time we receive You in the Holy Eucharist. You O Lord are our food and drink and we receive food and drink for our journey. We are exiles in the world and we long for the day, Lord, when You will return in glory and take us to that place of rest in the Father's bosom.  Just as the beloved disciple, whose feast day the Church celebrates today, rested on Your Heart so too Lord we who now rest on Your Heart will rest in the Father as well. Hasten the day of Your return, Beloved, life is weary and dreary and we hunger and thirst to come home to You and live with You eternally.

PSALM 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12 ©

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,

let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.

The mountains melt like wax

before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.

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.

JOHN 20:2-8 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

The feet of one who bears Good News are swift just as the feet of Mary of Magdala were swift as she went running to Simon Peter to tell him that the tomb was empty. She came to Peter, the one whom You appointed as Head of Your Church and the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom. All Mary knew was that the tomb was empty and this she revealed to Peter and the disciple You loved.

Peter's response was to set out immediately with John and together they ran to the tomb with the beloved disciple reaching first. He didn't enter but waited in deference for the first of the Apostles to enter but he did bend down to look and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground. Peter entered first and also saw what John had seen, '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.'  

John concludes saying, 'he saw and he believed.'

What he saw, my Lord, and believed, was that everything You said about being raised up on the third day had come to pass. You had indeed risen from the dead and in Your rising is our hope. 

Grant that we too may be swift of foot my Lord, as we hasten to carry the Good News of our salvation to all we meet by the witness of our lives. May Your holy presence in us emanate from us and may we strive to be like You - gentle, humble, compassionate, giving, generous, selfless, eager to listen rather than speak, and allow Your Presence in us to touch and heal, bring comfort and hope, to everyone we meet.