Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Lectionary: 697
Lectionary: 697
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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Alleluia See Te Deum
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 20:1A AND 2-8
On the first day of
the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So 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;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, 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,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So 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;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, 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,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
Meditation: John
saw the Living Word and believed
What was it like for
those who encountered the Son of God in human form? John, the beloved disciple
of Jesus, wrote his gospel as an eye-witness of the Word of God who
became flesh and dwelt among us, and who died and rose for our salvation. John
was the first apostle to reach the tomb of Jesus on Easter Sunday morning. Like
the other disciples, he was not ready to see an empty tomb and to hear the
angel's message, Why do you seek the living among the dead (Luke
24:5)? What did John see in the tomb that led him to believe in the
resurrection of Jesus? It was certainly not a dead body. The dead body of Jesus
would have dis-proven the resurrection and made his death a tragic conclusion
to a glorious career as a great teacher and miracle worker. When John saw the
empty tomb he must have recalled Jesus' prophecy that he would rise again after
three days. Through the gift of faith John realized that no tomb on earth could
contain the Lord and giver of life.
John in his first
epistle testifies: What we have seen, heard, and touched we proclaim as
the word of life which existed "from the beginning" (1 John
1:1-4). John bears witness to what has existed from all eternity. This
"word of life" is Jesus the word incarnate, but also Jesus as the
word announced by the prophets and Jesus the word now preached throughout the
Christian church for all ages to come. One thing is certain, if Jesus had not
risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, we would never have heard of
him. Nothing else could have changed sad and despairing men and women into
people radiant with joy and courage. The reality of the resurrection is the
central fact of the Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the
Lord gives us "eyes of faith" to know him and the power of his
resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Christ
and to know him personally as our Savior and Lord.
"Lord Jesus
Christ, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us.
Give me the eyes of faith to see you in your glory. Help me to draw near to you
and to grow in the knowledge of your great love and power."
 Eager Heart |
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December 27,
2014. Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
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John 20:1a and 2-8
On the first day of
the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other
disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the
tomb, and we don´t know where they put him." So 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; he bent down and saw the
burial cloths there, 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, the one who had arrived at the
tomb first, and he saw and believed.
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, today I am reminded
of the intensity of love that you stir in the hearts of your followers. I
want to be your follower today. I believe that you love me. I believe that
you have overcome sin and death. I believe that you walk with me.
Petition: Lord, give me the joy of discovering you as St. John
discovered you.
1. Eager: St. John had been enthused by Christ from the
very beginning. Early on Christ had won his heart. In his Gospel, John would
record many things about Christ in a very personal way, giving us special insights
into Christ. Christ allowed him into his heart, and John’s faith gave him
reason to hope in the Resurrection. That is why he runs with such eagerness
to the tomb. He does not yet know that Christ is risen, but he wants to know.
He wants to be where Christ is. Am I eager to be with Christ? This time of
Christmas is a special time in which I can naturally feel attracted to
Christ. Do I take advantage of this grace and try to converse more with him?
2. Fast: No hesitation; Get there as quickly as possible.
John knows where he has to go. Nothing else is as important. He does not let
anything get in the way. A saint lives his life quickly, even if his years
are long. He lives it quickly because he lives each day, each moment,
intensely for Christ and souls. He lives his prayer life intensely—in spite
of the natural fatigue and moments of dryness—because he knows the time spent
in prayer is the most important moment of the day. A saint lives his service
to his family and to others with the intensity of love. Rather than tiring
him, love brings him closer to God. Am I afraid to love and to live with
intensity?
3. Believing:John was rewarded for his faith. His Lord is alive! No
amount of cruelty and evil—not even death itself—can defeat his Lord. John
teaches us to believe in Christ, to discover with joy the signs of his
presence. Am I using this Christmas season to reaffirm my faith in Christ’s
presence in the world? Do I cultivate a supernatural outlook in the things I
do, in the way I deal with those around me? Do I build up confidence in
Christ’s victory in souls and discover the signs of that victory?
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, thank you for St.
John’s faith. He was close to your heart. Help me to place my heart in your
heart. I want to run to you, Lord, throughout the ups-and-downs of my life,
the good times and the bad. Today I will stay close to you in my heart. Stay
close to me also.
Resolution: I will pray the Creed in front of a manger scene today
and make a special effort to talk about God’s providence in my conversations
with others.
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FEAST OF JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, JOHN 20:1A, 2-8
(1 John1:1-4; Psalm 97)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, JOHN 20:1A, 2-8
(1 John1:1-4; Psalm 97)
KEY VERSE: "He saw and believed" (v 8).
READING: John was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Together with his brother James and with Simon Peter, they formed an inner circle among the Twelve. John is credited with the authorship of three epistles and one gospel. The gospels (good news) were written as testimonies of faith to other believers. John wrote toward the end of the first century, the last evangelist to write a gospel, although many scholars believe that the final editing of his writing was done by others after his death. Like the other evangelists, John wrote from the viewpoint of the resurrection. When Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb she ran to tell Peter and John (the "disciple whom Jesus loved," Jn 20:2). The two disciples raced to the tomb to see for themselves. Peter was slow to understand the meaning, but John "saw and believed" (v 8). Just as Jesus was born from the virgin womb of Mary, Jesus was reborn from the virgin tomb in which he was laid.
REFLECTING: Let us "who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles" [Eucharistic Prayer I], continue in our own time to hand on the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time.
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to believe that you are alive in my life.
FEAST OF JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and Salome. A fisherman, he and his brother James the Great, were called the Sons of Thunder. John was called by Jesus during the first year of his ministry, and he traveled everywhere with him, becoming so close as to be known as the beloved disciple. He was the only one of the Twelve not to forsake the Savior in the hour of his Passion, standing at the foot of the cross with Jesus' mother Mary and Mary Magdalene. While Jesus hung on the cross, he made John the guardian of his mother (John 19:27). Tradition says that John took Mary into his home and when persecution broke out in Jerusalem, they traveled to Ephesus. John founded many churches in Asia Minor. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died at Ephesus about the year 100.
Saturday 27 December 2014
St John.
1 John 1:1-4. Let the just rejoice in the Lord—Ps 96(97):1-2, 5-6, 11-12. John 20:2-8.
1 John 1:1-4. Let the just rejoice in the Lord—Ps 96(97):1-2, 5-6, 11-12. John 20:2-8.
The other disciple who had
reached the tomb first also went in: he saw and he believed.
We read in the second Mass
at Christmas: ‘They [the shepherds] went with haste, and they found Mary and
Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger, and when they had seen, they
understood what had been told them concerning this child.’
St Luke and the fourth
gospel tell us the reactions of chosen people at the manger and the tomb
of Our Lord.
What are my reactions at
the crib, at the cross and the tomb? Do I, by the grace of God, go beyond what
I see with my eyes? Lord, I pray for the grace to have a vision of deeper,
hidden realities. Lord, that I may see. Lord, increase my faith!
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Profound Hunger
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Oh Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, I have only begun to
know you, and I realize how much more there is to know. Draw me closer to you
every day. As I look forward to the coming year, I ask for a deeper hunger to
eat your Body and drink your Blood.
December
27
St. John the Apostle
St. John the Apostle
It is God who calls; human beings answer. The vocation of John and
his brother James is stated very simply in the Gospels, along with that of
Peter and his brother Andrew: Jesus called them; they followed. The
absoluteness of their response is indicated by the account. James and John
“were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them,
and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him”
(Matthew 4:21b-22).
For the
three former fishermen—Peter, James and John—that faith was to be rewarded by a
special friendship with Jesus. They alone were privileged to be present at the
Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus and the agony in
Gethsemane. But John’s friendship was even more special. Tradition assigns to
him the Fourth Gospel, although most modern Scripture scholars think it
unlikely that the apostle and the evangelist are the same person.
John’s
own Gospel refers to him as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23;
19:26; 20:2), the one who reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper, and the
one to whom he gave the exquisite honor, as he stood beneath the cross, of
caring for his mother. “Woman, behold your son.... Behold, your mother” (John
19:26b, 27b).
Because
of the depth of his Gospel, John is usually thought of as the eagle of
theology, soaring in high regions that other writers did not enter. But the
ever-frank Gospels reveal some very human traits. Jesus gave James and John the
nickname, “sons of thunder.” While it is difficult to know exactly what this
meant, a clue is given in two incidents.
In the
first, as Matthew tells it, their mother asked that they might sit in the
places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom—one on his right hand, one on his left. When
Jesus asked them if they could drink the cup he would drink and be baptized
with his baptism of pain, they blithely answered, “We can!” Jesus said that
they would indeed share his cup, but that sitting at his right hand was not his
to give. It was for those to whom it had been reserved by the Father. The other
apostles were indignant at the mistaken ambition of the brothers, and Jesus
took the occasion to teach them the true nature of authority: “...[W]hoever
wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did
not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”
(Matthew 20:27-28).
On
another occasion the “sons of thunder” asked Jesus if they should not call down
fire from heaven upon the inhospitable Samaritans, who would not welcome Jesus
because he was on his way to Jerusalem. But Jesus “turned and rebuked them”
(see Luke 9:51-55).
On the
first Easter, Mary Magdalene “ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other
disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the
tomb, and we don’t know where they put him’” (John 20:2). John recalls, perhaps
with a smile, that he and Peter ran side by side, but then “the other disciple
ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first” (John 20:4b). He did not
enter, but waited for Peter and let him go in first. “Then the other disciple
also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and
believed” (John 20:8).
John was
with Peter when the first great miracle after the Resurrection took place—the
cure of the man crippled from birth—which led to their spending the night in jail
together. The mysterious experience of the Resurrection is perhaps best
contained in the words of Acts: “Observing the boldness of Peter and John and
perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they [the questioners] were
amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
The
Apostle John is traditionally considered the author of the Fourth Gospel, three
New Testament letters and the Book of Revelation. His Gospel is a very
personal account. He sees the glorious and divine Jesus already in the
incidents of his mortal life. At the Last Supper, John’s Jesus speaks as if he
were already in heaven. It is the Gospel of Jesus’ glory.
Comment:
It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
Quote:
A persistent story has it that John's "parishioners" grew tired of his one sermon, which relentlessly emphasized: "Love one another." Whether the story is true or not, it has basis in John's writing. He wrote what may be called a summary of the Bible: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16).
A persistent story has it that John's "parishioners" grew tired of his one sermon, which relentlessly emphasized: "Love one another." Whether the story is true or not, it has basis in John's writing. He wrote what may be called a summary of the Bible: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him" (1 John 4:16).
Patron Saint of:
Turkey
Turkey
LECTIO DIVINA:
ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE
Lectio:
Saturday, December 27, 2014
John 20, 2-8
Christmas Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord God, you are love itself.
We know that you loved us first
before we could ever love you.
Let this unforgettable experience
of your “beloved apostle” John
become also our deep and lasting experience.
May the love you have shown us
in your Son Jesus Christ
move us to love you very deeply in return
and overflow on all those we meet in life.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
We know that you loved us first
before we could ever love you.
Let this unforgettable experience
of your “beloved apostle” John
become also our deep and lasting experience.
May the love you have shown us
in your Son Jesus Christ
move us to love you very deeply in return
and overflow on all those we meet in life.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading – John 20, 2-8
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark,
when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved
away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the
one whom 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, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying 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.
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, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying 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.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel presents to us the passage of the Gospel of
John which speaks about the Beloved Disciple. Probably, this text was chosen to
read and to meditate on it today, feast of Saint John the Evangelist, for the
immediate identification that we all make of the beloved disciple with the
apostle John. But the strange thing is that in no passage of the Gospel of John
it is said that the beloved disciple is John. But then, from the most remote
times of the Church, it has always be insisted upon in identifying both of
these. This is why, in insisting on the similarity between the two, we run the
risk of losing a very important aspect of the message of the Gospel in regard
to the beloved disciple.
• In the Gospel of John, the beloved disciple represents the new community which is born around Jesus. We find the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross, together with Mary, the mother of Jesus (Jn 19, 26). Mary represents the People of the Old Covenant. At the end of the first century, the time in which the final redaction of the Gospel of John was compiled, there was a growing conflict between the Synagogue and the Church. Some Christians wanted to abandon the Old Testament and remain or keep only the New Testament. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus says: “Woman, behold your son!” and to the Beloved Disciple: “Son, behold your mother!” And both must remain together as mother and son. To separate the Old Testament from the New one, in that time was what we would call today separation between faith (NT) and life (OT).
• In the Gospel today, Peter and the Beloved Disciple, informed by the witness of Mary Magdalene, ran together toward the Holy Sepulchre. The young one runs faster than the elderly one and reaches the tomb first. He looks inside the tomb, observes everything, but does not enter. He allows Peter to enter first. Here is indicated the way in which the Gospel describes the reaction of the two men before what both of them see: “He entered and saw the linen clothes lying on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen clothes 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”. Both of them saw the same thing, but this is said only of the Beloved Disciple that he believed: “Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, he saw and he believed”. Why? Is it that Peter did not believe?
• The Beloved Disciple looks, sees in a different way, he perceives more than the others. He has a loving look which perceives the presence of the novelty of Jesus. The morning after that night of working, looking for fish and, then the miraculous catch of fish, it is he, the beloved disciple who perceives the presence of Jesus and says: “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21, 7). On that occasion, Peter informed by the affirmation of the Beloved Disciple, also recognizes and begins to understand. Peter learns from the Beloved Disciple. Then Jesus asks three times: “Peter, do you love me?” (Jn 21, 15.16.17). Three times Peter answers: “You know that I love you!” After the third time, Jesus entrusts the flock to the care of Peter, and in that moment Peter also becomes a “Beloved Disciple”.
• In the Gospel of John, the beloved disciple represents the new community which is born around Jesus. We find the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross, together with Mary, the mother of Jesus (Jn 19, 26). Mary represents the People of the Old Covenant. At the end of the first century, the time in which the final redaction of the Gospel of John was compiled, there was a growing conflict between the Synagogue and the Church. Some Christians wanted to abandon the Old Testament and remain or keep only the New Testament. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus says: “Woman, behold your son!” and to the Beloved Disciple: “Son, behold your mother!” And both must remain together as mother and son. To separate the Old Testament from the New one, in that time was what we would call today separation between faith (NT) and life (OT).
• In the Gospel today, Peter and the Beloved Disciple, informed by the witness of Mary Magdalene, ran together toward the Holy Sepulchre. The young one runs faster than the elderly one and reaches the tomb first. He looks inside the tomb, observes everything, but does not enter. He allows Peter to enter first. Here is indicated the way in which the Gospel describes the reaction of the two men before what both of them see: “He entered and saw the linen clothes lying on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen clothes 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”. Both of them saw the same thing, but this is said only of the Beloved Disciple that he believed: “Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, he saw and he believed”. Why? Is it that Peter did not believe?
• The Beloved Disciple looks, sees in a different way, he perceives more than the others. He has a loving look which perceives the presence of the novelty of Jesus. The morning after that night of working, looking for fish and, then the miraculous catch of fish, it is he, the beloved disciple who perceives the presence of Jesus and says: “It is the Lord!” (Jn 21, 7). On that occasion, Peter informed by the affirmation of the Beloved Disciple, also recognizes and begins to understand. Peter learns from the Beloved Disciple. Then Jesus asks three times: “Peter, do you love me?” (Jn 21, 15.16.17). Three times Peter answers: “You know that I love you!” After the third time, Jesus entrusts the flock to the care of Peter, and in that moment Peter also becomes a “Beloved Disciple”.
3) Personal questions
• All of us who believe in Jesus are today Beloved Disciples. Do
I have the same loving look to perceive the presence of God and to believe in
his Resurrection?
• To separate the Old Testament from the New one is the same thing as to separate Faith and Life. How do I do and live this today?
• To separate the Old Testament from the New one is the same thing as to separate Faith and Life. How do I do and live this today?
5) Concluding Prayer
The mountains melt like wax,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his saving justice,
all nations see his glory. (Ps 97,5-6)
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his saving justice,
all nations see his glory. (Ps 97,5-6)
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