Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 27, 2018 - Dec. 27 - Feast of St. John, Apostle & Evangelist
[1 John 1:1-4 and John 20:1a, 2-8]What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, and what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life - for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it......what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you. [1 John] Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. [John]
The celebration of the feast of St. John the apostle and evangelist is a reminder of the importance of both of those titles. As an apostle, John was part of the original group called by Jesus, and was included in some of the most intimate experiences, such as the transfiguration. He was also at the foot of the cross and was entrusted by Jesus with the care of Jesus' mother.
As evangelist, he gives his name to his witness and the witness of those to whom he preached. His gospel portrait of Jesus was the last to be composed, along with the three letters associated with his disciples. [The "John" in Revelation is not considered now by most scripture scholars to have been the apostle.] In leaving this scriptural heritage, he gave physical form in writing to what he had "seen and believed." A reading of the Gospel According to John shows the importance of "seeing and believing." The story of the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) and the appearance to Thomas after the resurrection (John 20:24-29) are wonderful examples of this.
As we look upon the manger scene (if it hasn't already been put away), we realize that it exists because disciples preserved the stories of Jesus' birth which were put into writing by Matthew and Luke. The evangelist John not only testified to what he had seen and believed, but gave us the wonderful few words that say it all, "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." We, too, by re-enacting that witness in this season can help others to see and believe what we see and believe. AMEN