We can be pretty sure Saint John was in both Nazareth and Bethlehem. On this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist we celebrate the faithful companion that John, the brother of James, was to Jesus. He was among the first chosen to be a disciple; he was a confident of Jesus; he was with Jesus through His passion; he was at the crucifixion and was entrusted by Jesus from the cross for the care of His mother. Saint John was very special to Jesus.
He is also very special to us. In a Gospel and three pastoral letters, he shares the heart of Jesus for all people. It is the heart of love. John also records the book of Revelation-a vision of what is yet to come.
There is a clear theme to John's writings. That narrative thread is to describe the nature of God's love for us. It is a covenant love-a love that commits to another but that is not conditioned on a response. It's a love that always seeks the welfare of the other and rejoices in whatever the response may be.
That is the kind of love John saw in Jesus. That is the kind of love he was determined to live out. That is the kind of love those who read his writings are urged to live. That is the kind of love he urges us to live out.
On this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist, on this third day of Christmas, celebrate God's love for us in the Christ Child. On this Feast Day of Saint John, determine again to love as Christ has loved us!
THE PRAYER: Bless us this Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist as we celebrate Christ's love for us and recommit ourselves in our love for our brothers and sisters. Amen.
|
