On this day we honor St. John, friend and disciple of Jesus
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of St. John (December 27, 2021): 1 JN 1:1-4; PS 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; JN 20:1,2-8
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
At the end of Jesus’ mission, John would stay with Him during His suffering and Crucifixion.
While we continue to celebrate the joy of the Christmas season, we also salute St. John, Apostle and evangelist. In doing so, we turn our attention the ministry of Jesus, particularly to His passion, death and Resurrection. John, the Beloved Disciple, was one of the first Apostles called by Jesus to accompany Him on His travels. He was with our Lord as He preached the coming of the Kingdom of God, healed the sick and even raised the dead. John witnessed His boundless mercy and profound love for people, especially, the poor, afflicted, and marginalized. A fisherman like his brother James as well as Peter and his brother Andrew, John left his old way of life behind, in order to follow the friend and teacher they would come to know as the Christ, the Messiah. And, in time, they would come to embrace Him as the Son of God.
At the end of Jesus’ mission, John would stay with Him during His suffering and Crucifixion. He comforted the Blessed Virgin Mary and, through some of Christ’s last words, John received her like a son. Today’s Gospel describes how John was with Peter on Easter morning when Mary Magdalene rushed to tell them that Jesus’ tomb was empty. “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; … 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 … and he saw and believed” (John 20:3-8). Despite the stunning discovery that the body of their Lord was gone, St. John quickly understood that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He had told them. Perhaps, it was simply loving fidelity that opened John’s eyes and heart to the truth because he realized that our Savior always kept His word. It seems fitting that today St. John is the patron of love, loyalty, and friendship. This author of a Gospel, the Book of Revelation and three letters, died a natural death around 100 A.D.
