Daily Gospel Reflection for December 27, 2025

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 20:1a and 2-8

This is one of my favorite passages on the Resurrection. I like to place myself in the position of the disciple who ran faster and arrived first. Then, as I am sure I would do, he stops and does not go in to see what happened. I think I am always interested in finding out what is going on so that I can prepare myself for whatever is about to happen. But then, when the time comes, I hesitate. I am not sure what to do, even though I tried to prepare for any scenario. 

Today is the feast day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. It is believed that he is the one who arrived first, but went in second. The Gospel says that, “he saw and believed.” St. John was one of the first apostles called by Jesus, and he sat next to Jesus, even leaning on Him, during the Last Supper. He was also the only apostle to be at the cross of Jesus during His passion. St. John took care of His mother after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

St. John seemed to be very close to Jesus, yet why did he hesitate at the tomb? He heard Jesus speak of His death and that He would rise again. Jesus tried to prepare all His apostles for this. Was St. John like me in that no matter how much I prepare for something, it is still not enough? Or was St. John so traumatized by what happened to Jesus that he could not handle one more disappointment? In the end, St. John did take that step into the tomb, and he saw what he needed to see and believed in the amazing miracle. Taking that step helped him to experience the Resurrection and the saving grace of Jesus.

Ponder:

Do you hesitate even when you are prepared? Can you step into the situation and believe that Jesus is there for you?

Pray:

St. John, please pray for us when we hesitate, so that we may fully experience the saving grace of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Copyright 2025 Erika Dix