Feast of Saint John, apostle
and evangelist
(I John 1:1-4; John 20:1a.2-8)
At year’s end people in the United States turn to Time magazine for the unofficial “Person
of the Year.” They believe that history
is determined more by distinctive human beings than by ideas or by events. Whether a political personality, a religious
leader or, as the case this year, a group of individuals, the Person of the
Year has contributed significantly to positive human development. Christians have the same intuition as it celebrates
Christmas. We recognize that God has
saved the world not by a spiritual force but by sending His Son as a
human. Today’s readings span the extension
of the Savior’s earthly sojourn.
The first reading relates that the Son of God had a human
body. People heard his voice, saw his
face, and touched his flesh. He was born,
like the rest of us, of a human mother and experienced the same kinds of joy
and frustration. The gospel assumes that
he died and also, as a sign of his successful mission, that he triumphed over
death with his resurrection. Now, the
readings intimate, we just have to follow in his way to the same resurrected
life.
Both readings are said to be written by St. John. Scholars debate who he was and whether he was
one individual. The arguments are
peripheral. What is essential is his
message. Once again, he proclaimed that
the Son of God came to earth as a human being.
His obedience to his Father’s will was so perfect that the Father grants
to those who associate with him a share in his eternal glory.
