John

December 27, 2014:  St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

• 'Eyeball' and 'hand' tie pins:  We've seen the Word of Life with our eyes and touched him with our hands (1st reading); John saw and believed (gospel)

• 'Runner' tie pin:  Peter and the "beloved disciple" ran to the tomb (gospel)

• White shirt:  color of St. John's feast

• Pin:  Joyeux Noël!

Listen

• From the dawning of creation/ Dufner (more) (1st reading)

• Pass it on/ Kaiser:  lyrics, more (1st reading)

• Psalm 97:  The Lord is King/ Booth, Cooney (psalm)

Read

• 1 Jn 1:1-4  We proclaim the Word of life—what was from the beginning, that we've heard, seen, and touched—so you may have fellowship with the Father, Jesus Christ, and us.

• Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12  "Rejoice in the Lord, you just!"  The Lord is king; the heavens proclaim his justice, and all see his glory.

• Jn 20:1a, 2-8  Mary Magdalene ran to Simon Peter and [John]:  “They've taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him.”  Both ran to the tomb; John arrived first and saw the burial cloths, then Peter arrived and saw them too.  John went in and believed.

Reflect

• Creighton:  John's Gospel never gives the "beloved disciple's" name, he's been identified as apostle John, son of Zebedee, author of the gospel.  Many early Christians saw Christianity as gnostic (where salvation is for a select few "in the know"); to counter that threat to faith, the "beloved disciple" shows the importance of the love between him and Jesus, and between Jesus and us.  John's gospel calls each of us to a similar deep and loving relationship with Jesus; God calls you to become the disciple Jesus loves.

• One Bread One Body:  The "beloved disciple" may not be named to show that he represents all Jesus' disciples; we're all beloved, can have a miraculous relationship with Jesus, must stand at the foot of the cross, must deny ourselves and take up the cross daily, and must believe in and proclaim the risen Lord.  Become more aware of being Christ's beloved.

• DailyScripture.net:  John was the first apostle to reach Jesus' empty tomb. When he saw it, he must have recalled Jesus' prophecy that he'd rise.  He bears witness to what has existed from all eternity:  Jesus, word of life, announced by prophets, made flesh.  

• Universalis:  John the Evangelist, Zebedee's son, nicknamed by Jesus “son of thunder” (as brother James).  At Jesus' Transfiguration and empty tomb,  Jesus put his mother in his care.  Exiled to island of Patmos; died at Ephesus.  See Catholic Encyclopedia.

• Sacred Space

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