Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 27, 2023

Date:   Feast of St. John the Evangelist & Apostle

 Scripture Text:  1 John 1:1-4

Beloved:

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

concerns the Word of life —for the life was made visible;

we have seen it and testify to it

and proclaim to you the eternal life

that was with the Father and was made visible to us—what we have seen and heard

we proclaim now to you,

so that you too may have fellowship with us;

for our fellowship is with the Father

and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today is the beginning of the 1st Letter of John. John proclaims to his readers that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Word of Life. John reminds the readers that what we know to be true about Christ we must proclaim to others so that they, too, may have “fellowship” with the Christ and the Father. John ends by reminding the reader that part of the joy of coming to know Christ is the desire to bring Christ to others.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What am I doing to bring Christ to others and others to Christ? With whom have I shared the Good News through word or action?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, during this time of the year when we remember and celebrate your unfathomable gift of your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we offer our praise and thanksgiving to You for all that You are and all that You have given to us. As we continue our celebration of the Christmas Season, send your Spirit to magnify the joy within us that springs from our relationship with You and your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. Grant that we may be heralds of the Good News through our words and actions. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.