Feast of Saint John, apostle and evangelist
(I John 1:1-4; John 20:1a.2-8)
How shall we define “love”? Let’s say it is more than the classical
definition of desiring the good of another.
It seems to be more like a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good
of others. Such love is seen in parents who give up copious amounts of time and
energy to care for a child with Downes Syndrome. It is also found in a spouse who waits
faithfully for years for her imprisoned husband (or his imprisoned wife).
Love propels “the
disciple whom Jesus loved” to reach his tomb first ready to believe that he has
risen from the dead. Love also moves the
disciple, whom tradition names “John” and who is often and probably wrongly
equated with John, the son of Zebedee, to reject common sense that says death
is final. He doesn’t care that people
will think him crazy. He looks at the
scant evidence of an empty tomb and a rolled up burial head covering and believes
Jesus risen.
Christmas engenders
such love. it tells us of God’s infinite
love for the world that He sent His Son to redeem it. It also speaks of the Son’s love so great
that he gave his life to fulfill the Father’s will. The first reading tells of the wonder of
knowing the one whom the writer knew in an intimate way but whom we may know
only in a spiritual way. Nonetheless, he
graces us with the power to make sacrifices for the good of others.
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