2nd day in the Octave of Christmas, December 27, 2024, Feast of St John 1 Jn 1:1-4, Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a-8
It may seem a little odd that we are hearing the story of Jesus’ Resurrection so closely after His birth on this second day of the Octave of Christmas. Yes, Advent is over, and Christmas has started. It is time that we now celebrate the Christmas Season and hear about who Jesus is. Today, St John the Apostle, the one whom Jesus loved, gives us two different stories about who Jesus is.
In the first reading, John emphasizes that eternal life has been made known through Jesus. John starts, “What was from the beginning…” If you recall, in John’s Gospel, he starts out, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” John stated that Jesus is the word and was with God and Is God proclaiming Jesus’s divinity. To start his first letter with “What was from the beginning,” is a literal reference back to his gospel. Jesus is the word and Jesus is God. But John didn’t stop there, he went on to list out all the many ways Jesus was and is, from the beginning. John then ended this passage with “we are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” The joy not only of the beginning of Christ with His birth, but also with His resurrection. It makes total sense then, that the gospel reading accompanying the 1st reading is about Jesus’ resurrection.
Our Christmas has just begun. It starts with Jesus’ birth, and we carry it through until Epiphany on Jan 5. It is a time of celebration, a time where we honor those around us and where we honor some great saints and the Holy family. A time today, to honor St. John, who through his gospel, proclaimed the divinity of Christ. So, keep your decorations up and continue to celebrate. Even our Psalm today exhorts us to Rejoice! For God is with us in the flesh. Blessed are those who have not seen, and still believe!
Saint James Catholic Church 