26
Dec
Dec
Reflection: John 20:2-8
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John the Evangelist, Jesus’ beloved disciple. Immediately after Christmas, liturgically the feast of St. John leads us closer to the crib of Jesus he teaches us lessons that help us enter deeply into the mystery of the Incarnation and the birth of the Son of God. Today we begin reading from his first Letter, which we will ponder throughout the rest of the Christmas season. In his letter, John communicates the story of a God who became man: “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 concerning the Word of life, for the life was made visible, we have seen it and testify to it.” What did John see? His most spectacular vision is narrated in today’s gospel. Although we are just starting the Christmas octave, today we have the Gospel passage that is often read during the Easter. While we identify John the evangelist with the “beloved disciple,” he invites each of us to contemplate the life of Jesus by imagining ourselves as the beloved disciple. As the disciple runs to the tomb, we are invited to have that same eagerness for the good news of the Lord. We have just finished unwrapping Christmas presents, recalling the gift of this Holy Child wrapped in swaddling clothes. Today the gospel draws our attention to the linen cloths that wrapped the crucified body of Jesus. The beloved disciple believed, not because he saw the risen Jesus in glory, but because he sees the traces of God’s presence, the linen cloths that recall the incredible outpouring of God’s love in the life and death of Jesus. So it is with us. In this life we never get to have a glimpse the fullness of God’s presence, just the traces. It is our faith that allows us to see God present behind those traces. In this Christmas season we may have taken up many acts of charity, generously sharing gifts with those in need. We have shared time with friends and loved ones. And we know of the hard work of justice and reconciliation and peace-making that goes on around us and in us all year long- this is how we share the Joy of Christmas with the people around us. And this is what John the evangelist reminds us today: “Share with others what we have heard, and seen, and looked upon, and touched, concerning the Word of Life” – this is what we are invited to proclaim, with our life as well as our words, about God’s presence in and around us.