St. John knew Christ’s love for himself and all people
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 “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
St. John spent his life sharing the Good News through preaching and the written word that we still treasure today.
St. John, often called the Beloved Disciple, was one of the first whom Jesus called to join Him. Along with his brother St. James and St. Peter, John was very close to Christ throughout His ministry. They were the only Apostles our Lord brought with Him to witness His Transfiguration and His raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead. And only these three accompanied Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray on the night He was arrested. But John and James had a reputation that might seem at odds with the humility and forgiveness that Christ Himself demonstrated. Indeed, He referred to them as the “sons of thunder” and at times they could be self-seeking and even wrathful. Nevertheless, despite his very human failings, St. John revealed himself as a faithful and devoted friend who stayed with Christ even when the other Apostles abandoned Him. And, from the cross, Jesus directed His Blessed Mother to accept John as her son while entrusting her to John’s care. He is generally credited with writing not only the fourth Gospel but also three letters and the Book of Revelation.
In the first reading for today’s feast, we hear John tell all those who follow our Lord to understand that He is both human and divine as well as the importance of truth and love in living a Christian life. “We … 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” (1 John 1:2-4). Unlike the other Apostles who were martyred, St. John is believed to have lived a long life, dying in Ephesus around the year 100. He is known as the Apostle of Charity.
Suggested missionary action: Let us pray to St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, to intercede for all the Church’s missionaries, asking him to keep them safe from sin or harm. And we can ask the Beloved Disciple to draw those who do not know or believe in Him ever closer to our Savior’s unfathomable mercy.
