1 John 1:1-4.
Psalm 97:1-2,5-6,11-12.
John 20:2-8 Full Readings
The Beloved Disciple
Today, we celebrate the feast day of St John the Apostle. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, wrote his Gospel as an eyewitness of the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1,14), and who died and rose for our salvation. Not only did he write one of the four Gospels, but he also wrote various letters that are preserved. The letter we read in the first reading is a perfect example.
John is called the beloved disciple. We know that Jesus loved everyone equally, but why is John in his gospel calls himself, "the disciple Jesus loved?" This is perhaps because of his affection as he sits next to Jesus at the Last Supper, sharing the Eucharist; he is committed to Mary at the foot of the Cross, so shares the Passion and suffering of Christ; in today's gospel, he was the first apostle to reach the tomb of Jesus on Easter Sunday morning; and with Mary composes the first family of the Church. And perhaps, as a younger disciple, he may have received special fatherly-like attention from our Lord. and more still, perhaps this is how John saw himself as he wrote his Gospel account. John may have done so because telling the story of Jesus’ life was deeply personal to him. His own love and affection for his Lord was the central and most consuming passion of his soul and thus saw himself as the beloved disciple. John is also put forward in John 21.24 as the prime witness to the tradition of the Church not to die until Jesus comes. The legend has it that in extreme old age he was still brought into the assembly, and all he would say was ‘My children, love one another.’ All these are the characteristics and functions of any beloved and loving disciple of Christ.
Though John is the beloved disciple of Jesus, it's surprising that in many parts of the gospel, his name is not mentioned as the beloved disciple. This ‘Beloved Disciple’ is deliberately never named for the four times he futures in the gospel, because he stands for any disciple whom the Lord loves. Today, let us learn from John the Apostle, that we can also become beloved disciples. Like John, a beloved disciple is the one who reclines next to Jesus at the Eucharist, who shares the Passion with Jesus and joins his mother to form the Christian community, who believes in the Resurrection, and who hands on the tradition until Jesus comes again. When we do all these, we deservedly become beloved disciples. Let's work for this in our Christian journey and life. You and I, brethren, can be a beloved disciple.
John in his first epistle testifies: What we have seen, heard, and touched we proclaim as the word of life which existed "from the beginning" (1 John 1:1-4). John bears witness to what has existed from all eternity. This "Word of Life" is Jesus the Word Incarnate, but also Jesus as the word announced by the prophets and Jesus the word now preached throughout the Christian churches for all ages to come. One thing is certain, if Jesus had not risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, we would never have heard of him. Nothing else could have changed sad and despairing men and women into people radiant with joy and courage. We too rejoice and believe in Jesus because of these Apostles and especially John the Evangelist. We have a reason to thank John the Apostle for all his writings which give us strength to our faith.
Reflect, today, upon the simple truth that you are called to become the beloved disciple and invited to share in the holy and intimate love shared by Jesus and Saint John. Ponder the fact that our Lord also loves you with perfect charity, intimacy and totality. If you can gaze upon the love in the heart of this beloved disciple, then you, too, can share in that love and become a beloved disciple yourself.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, fill me with your deep love for you so that I may too be named among your beloved disciples. May saint John the Apostle always pray for me. Amen
Be blessed
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