Feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John was there. He was there early in the ministry of Christ. Along with his brother James, he was know as sons of thunder. Their father was Zebedee.

St John was also at the Transfiguration. He was on the mountain top. He saw the rising of the daughter of Jairus. And he of course was there at the foot of the cross when Mother Mary was given to the disciple to be his mother and our mother. He was at the last supper next to Jesus.

His fourth Gospel is more spiritual and theological focused on the divinity of Christ more than the others. It is longer and focuses more on personal encounters with Christ.

 

John was also the only disciple that wasn’t martyred although Tertlian mentions an attempt when he was dropped in a vat of boiling oil which did nothing to hurt him.

 

Saint John is unique among the disciples.

His focus was to help others understand the reality of the divinity of Christ so that we would know the joy of holding that truth not as an idea in our head but an absolute  fact solidly planted in our heart. He wanted there to be no doubt about who Jesus was and what that means for us.

The one who stood at the foot of the cross and saw the lengths that God went to be with us and redeem us and the sacrifice made for us, wants us to fully bring the cross into our hearts.

 

The faithful follower embraces the cross and our own cross. Certainly we are always on a journey, each moving toward St John’s goal of completely giving our life to Christ. Some further ahead. Other struggling to make progress. So St John writes his Gospel to help us believe and understand. It is his joy to help us believe as he does.

 

On the feast of St John let us ask St John to pray for us that our hearts will be softened. That we will accept our own cross. It is part of the life of a Christian to be tried. To let go of things of this world more and more each day as we are molded in his image. This process means we will also be broken. So we can heal and grow stronger. It is the way of life for a Christian. We will all have crosses. We will all lose and suffer.

 

We need to accept that struggle and allow ourselves to be stronger in faith. To say no to fear and worry. Knowing that in our moments of being tested, and we will all be tested. We will be tried and struggle and need healing again and again until we are ready to accept the truth of love and what really matters in life.

Jesus Christ is the way.

 

We are his disciples, students, those who seek his truth and learn to live as he did. For us, his life should be reflected in ours. A life that is slow to be upset, holding fast to his commandments. Always willing to help others and always with God’s will as our focus in all we do.