December 27, 2021, Monday in the Octave of Christmas ST. JOHN, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST

1 John 1:1-4

Psalm 97

John 20:1, 2-8

…what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you….1 John 1:4

And he saw and believed.  John 2:8

Lord, I am so grateful for the letters and gospel of St. John. Our faith would not be complete without his eyewitness testimony and his encouragement to believe in the impossible. Mary Magdalene thought your dead body had been moved or stolen. Peter and John “saw and believed.” As John wrote what you did and said we can be present in the scenes and miracles you performed. You can be present to me at Mass when I receive you in the Eucharist. Maybe that action is more intimate than just being in the crowd that followed you. I don’t know how I would have felt looking into the empty tomb. Fear, confusion, and doubt could have come over me. I rejoice in you as the resurrected Lord who died on the cross. The same Lord I can receive at Holy Mass after I hear your words proclaimed. Lord, give me the courage and the will to proclaim and witness to you as if I saw and heard you speak. I can only do that with the grace of the same Holy Spirit that inspired St. John to be such a faithful witness to your life.  St. John pray for me.  Amen