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Gospel Reading for December 27, 2024 – John 20: 1a, 2-8
DEEP RELATIONSHIP
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.
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Although still in the Christmas Season, the gospel reading is about our Lord’s Resurrection because today, we celebrate the Feast of St. John, the apostle and evangelist.
When John, Peter and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus, Mary, who ran ahead came back to tell them that someone took Jesus’ body from the tomb. But when John went in and saw the burial cloths and the cloth that covered Jesus head, he knew what happened.
Though Mary Magdalene was known to be one of the faithful followers of Jesus, John was not just a faithful follower. He was very close to Jesus. This is evident in chapter 17: 1-26 of his gospel where the prayers of Jesus to the Father are found. The difference in the relationship of Mary Magdalene with Jesus, and that of John with Jesus shows in their different reactions upon seeing the empty tomb.
It will be so much easier for us to understand how God works in our life or how he moves in our life if we develop a DEEP RELATIONSHIP with him.
Lord, help us improve our prayer life so we may become closer to you each day!