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
PsalmPS 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.
GospelJN 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 Word of God
made flesh and believed
: What
was it like for those who encountered the only begotten 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 (John
1:1,14), 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 churches 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 Jesus 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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The Word of Life was seen and touched,
by Severus of Antioch (488-538 AD)
"Given that this same John also said, 'No one has
ever seen God' (John 1:18, 1 John 1:4:12), how can he assure us that the living
Word of Life has been seen and touched? It is clear that it was in his
incarnate and human form that he was visible and touchable. What was not true
of him by nature became true of him in that way, for he is one and the same
indivisible Word, both visible and invisible, and without diminishing in either
respect he became touchable in both his divine-human nature. For he worked his
miracles in his divinity and suffered for us in his humanity." (excerpt from CATENA)
FEAST OF SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, JOHN 20:1a, 2-8
(1 John1:1-4; Psalm 97)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, JOHN 20:1a, 2-8
(1 John1:1-4; Psalm 97)
KEY VERSE: "He saw and believed" (v.8).
TO KNOW: 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.
TO LOVE: 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.
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to believe that you are alive in my life.
FEAST OF SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and Salome. A fisherman, he and his brother James the Great, were nick-named “Boanerges,” 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.
Tuesday 27 December 2016
Tue 27th. 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.
Remember the wonderful works of God.
After all the anticipation and
preparation, the days following Christmas can feel a little empty. With the
presents, unwrapped, the dinner long gone, and the branches on the brightly lit
tree already beginning to droop a little. Thank goodness we have the Spirit's
gentle guidance in the Church's liturgical life to prod us into action, or we
may never get back up! Today is the feast of St John, an important witness to
the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
With the other Apostles, John 'saw and believed'. The first reading today is especially powerful, it is John's personal testament to these events.
Today, he instructs us to keep the joy of Christmas alive in our hearts, to contemplate the mystery of the incarnation and to tell others of the wonderful works of God, so that with John, 'our own joy may be complete'.
With the other Apostles, John 'saw and believed'. The first reading today is especially powerful, it is John's personal testament to these events.
Today, he instructs us to keep the joy of Christmas alive in our hearts, to contemplate the mystery of the incarnation and to tell others of the wonderful works of God, so that with John, 'our own joy may be complete'.
ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE
St.
John, the son of Zebedee and brother of St. James the Great, was called to be
an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the
"beloved disciple" and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake
the Savior in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross
when Christ made him the guardian of His Mother.
His
later life was passed chiefly in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. He founded many
churches in Asia Minor, and he wrote many important works, including the fourth
Gospel, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also attributed to him.
Brought to Rome, tradition relates that he was by order of Emperor Dometian
cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came forth unhurt, and was banished to
the island of Pathmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all
his fellow apostles, and died in Ephesus about the year 100.
St.
John is called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue he had learned from his Divine
Master, and which he constantly inculcated by word and example. The
"beloved disciple" died at Ephesus, where a stately church was
erected over his tomb. It was afterwards converted into a Mohammedan mosque.
John
is credited with the authorship of three epistles and one Gospel, although many
scholars believe that the final editing of the Gospel was done by others
shortly after his death. He is also supposed by many to be the author of the
book of Revelation, called the Apocalypse, although this identification is less
certain.
LECTIO DIVINA: ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
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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