27 December 2025 (Saturday) / Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

27 December 2025 (Saturday)

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: First John 1: 1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97: 1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Gospel: John 20: 2-8

First Reading : 1 John 1:1‐4

Something which has existed since the beginning,
that we have heard,
and we have seen with our own eyes;
that we have watched
and touched with our hands:
the Word, who is life –
this is our subject.
That life was made visible:
we saw it and we are giving our testimony,
telling you of the eternal life
which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.
What we have seen and heard
we are telling you
so that you too may be in union with us,
as we are in union
with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 96(97):1‐2,5‐6,11‐12

Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
  let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
  his throne, justice and right.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
The mountains melt like wax
  before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
  all peoples see his glory.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
Light shines forth for the just
  and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;
  give glory to his holy name.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.

Alleluia:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : John 20:2‐8

On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
  So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

For our reflection today:

In the Gospel passage we have heard (cf. Jn 20:1-8), John recounts to us that unimaginable morning that forever changed human history. Let us imagine that morning: in the first light of dawn on the day after the Sabbath, near Jesus’ tomb, everyone sets off running. Mary Magdalene runs to inform the disciples; Peter and John run toward the sepulchre. Everyone runs, everyone feels the urgent need to move: there is no time to lose; they must make haste. Jesus’ disciples run because they have received the news that Jesus’ body has disappeared from the tomb. The hearts of Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and John are full of love and beat fervently after the separation that seemed definitive. Perhaps the hope of seeing the Lord’s face again is rekindled in them! As on that first day when he had promised: “Come and see” (Jn 1:39). The one who runs the fastest is John, certainly because he is the youngest, but also because he has not ceased hoping after he had seen, with his own eyes, Jesus die on the Cross; and also because he had been close to Mary, and thus he was ‘infected’ by her faith. When we feel that faith is waning or is lukewarm, let us go to her, Mary, and she will teach us; she will understand us; she will help us feel faith. (Pope Francis, Prayer Vigil with young Italians, 11 August 2018)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)