Saturday 27th December – Feast of St. John, Apostle & Evangelist.

Reflection: 1 John 1:1-4

THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

The Church celebrates today, an icon of the Gospel – St John the Evangelist, who, according to tradition, was the only Apostle of Christ that died a natural death. All others were martyred. He preached love in his letters and lived the gospel with joy, a joy he was ever ready to share. The “beloved Apostle”, as he is called, John’s humility is manifest in the Gospel reading of today (John 20:2-8) as he waited for Peter to enter the tomb of their master before he did. He gives us an example of humility which we all are called to embrace.

The word of life in today’s reading is the word made flesh (John 1:14), Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the reason for our life of joy and victory. He is the one we meet every day in prayer and in the Sacraments. We meet him at our working place and in our schools, in the market and on the streets. Do we recognize him? Do we deliberately create an atmosphere of love amidst hatred where Jesus’ presence can be felt? Beloved, Jesus is alive and he desires our active participation in his ministry to put smiles on the faces of those around us.

The Apostles may have seen and touched Jesus during his earthy ministry but we too are blessed because we believe in Him even without seeing Him (John 20:29) and are united in faith with the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us embrace the life of joy and peace which Christ brings. We must choose to live out the gospel and never be ashamed to experience the transformation it brings. (Romans 1:16). St John was able to share the joy of the gospel because He encountered Christ personally. Let us encounter Him in prayer, in His word and in the Eucharist; let us draw living water from the word of God each day to quench our thirst and fill our lives so that we can share the joy of the gospel with our neighbors. Only then is our joy is made complete.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please fill my life with your presence that I may overflow with the joy of your saving grace to others. Amen,

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 124 – The word of God, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, is set forth and displays its power in a most wonderful way in the writings of the New Testament which hand on the ultimate truth of God’s revelation. Their central object is Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate Son: his acts, teachings, Passion and glorification, and his Church’s beginnings under the Spirit’s guidance.

HIDE A TREASURE: “How happy are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29 GNB

Readings for Today: 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 96:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20: 2-8