St John - Apostle and Evangelist

St. John is traditionally one of the first disciples called by Jesus, son of Zebedee, and brother of James the Disciple.  Some suggest that John is the Disciple whom Jesus loved above the otehr disciples.  Throughout the scriptures we see John being included within a smaller group of disciples, with Peter and James.  The Acts of the Apostles certainly includes John as one of the primary evangelizers of the faithful after the resurrectiion.  Moreso we see John as intimately involved in the mission and ministry of the early Church.

As to the Gospel of John, scripture scholar J.L. McKenzie, notes that John reveals the mystery of the Word incarnate.  The most theological of the Gospels, John presents an outline of the Kingdom of God, and of the person of Jesus Christ.  McKenzie notes that Jesus is demonstrated to be the pre-existent Son of God and the Word of the Father, made flesh to live among us.  John's Gospel takes time and effort to demonstrate that Jesus reveals through his words and miracles, the glory of the Father.

John's Gospel does not have a birth narrative.  Jesus begins his ministry at his Baptism.  Like any faithful follower this is a sign of the spirit and an external sign of an internal connection to God the Father.  For John the full reality of Jesus Christ is defined through the passion, death and resurrection.  Jesus cannot be known simply as a human figure within a historical context.  St. John the Evangelist gives us a picture of Jesus as the Christ who has been raised from the dead, and sits in glory at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  The best way that we can come to know Jesus, and by this we  mean to experience Him, is through grace.

The beginning of John's Gospel draws us into the mystery of Jesus the Christ, by presenting Him as the Word made flesh, and the light of which no darkness can overcome.  John has very few miracle stories, but in these stories there is this conflict between those who have seen the light, the believers, and those who do not, the unbelievers.  Even more, those who are healed and are saved are not the religious but persons considered outside of the law and the covenant.  They do not rely on their human attributes to save them, but are opened to the Word of God, and find healing and salvation.

John's challenge to the Church, and those who worship therein, is that we cannot take our liturgy, sacraments, or preaching too lightly.  Jesus does not offer cheap grace.  The cross and resurrection are regular components in everything we do as members of the Body of Christ.  Just as Jesus reminds his listeners that He is about the Father, our (the Church) mission and ministry must be about God and the Kingdom.  Posing for a holy card is not enough for John the Evangelist, our faith and love needs to be authentic.

This is a good week to celebrate this feast.  John wants us to experience the real and living Christ, and change our lives so as to receive what he gives us.  John opens for us a vision of a Kingdom which is about light, happiness, and peace.