Tuesday, December 27, 2011 {St. John, Apostle, Evangelist (Feast)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
They sang to Thy holy name, O Lord, and praised Thy Victorious hand.
-- Wisdom 10:20

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 John 1:1-4
(The Word of Life)
1 We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it.
2 When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us.
3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 We write this in order that our joy may be complete.
Psalms: Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
(God the Supreme Ruler)
1 The Lord is king! Earth, be glad! Rejoice, you islands of the seas!
2 Clouds and darkness surround him; he rules with righteousness and justice.
5 The hills melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the nations see his glory.
11 Light shines on the righteous, and gladness on the good.
12 All you that are righteous be glad because of what the Lord has done! Remember what the holy God has done,
and give thanks to him.
Gospel: John 20:1-8
(The Empty Tomb)
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance.
2 She went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!”
3 Then Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb.
4 The two of them were running, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 He bent over and saw the linen cloths, but he did not go in.
6 Behind him came Simon Peter, and he went straight into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there
7 and the cloth which had been around Jesus' head. It was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.