December 27, 2018
St John the Evangelist
Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate St John, Apostle and Evangelist. He was the brother of James and both of them sons of Zebedee, nicknamed, “the sons of thunder.” John was one of the three who witnessed most of the central events of the life of Jesus and his miracles—He was at the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion and the discovery of the Resurrection. He is the one regarded as the ‘Disciple whom Jesus loved’ in the gospel attributed to him. It was to him that Jesus while dying on the cross, entrusted the care of his mother Mary. He was later exiled to the Island of Patmos. He is the writer of the Gospel of John, three Epistles and the Apocalypse(Revelation).
The first reading of today is from the 1John 1:1-4 is more of an explanation or a continuation of the first chapter of his gospel. He tells his listeners that his writing is a testimony to his experience of Jesus. John sees everything as emanating from Jesus, who is the Word of God. His testimony by his life and writing, is a proclamation and an invitation to his listeners. If they accept his word—accept Jesus, they will have fellowship with the Apostles. This is a clear indication of what faith does. Those who accept Jesus are made into sons and daughters of God. By that fact, they share the same thing with all who believe in Christ as well. He says, “…that which we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ.”
In the Gospel (John 20:2-8) we have an example of one of the defining moments in the life of the Apostles and Christianity. Jesus had just risen from the dead and the news brought to the Apostles by Mary Magdalene, who was still confused about what had taken place, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him.” On hearing this, Peter and John (who is referred to as “the one whom Jesus loved,”) took off to the burial place of Jesus. John who is the younger, got there first, but gave the place of honour to Peter, who went in first and then John went in too. One cannot overlook the humility of this great Apostle, in giving Peter the due honour as the head. He however remarked, “The other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” If there had been any doubt before now, all that was cleared immediately. Peter is the head and John like the Church submits to the leadership set in place by Christ. Our faith in the resurrection is the key to our followership of Jesus. As we listen to the testimony of the Apostles, we are also called to fellowship with them.
Let us pray: Lord, grant that the authority you have placed over your church, may have the courage to inspire your people to right action. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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