Tags
Today, by long tradition, the Church celebrates the feast of St John, the disciple whom Jesus ‘loved best’. He it was who, again according to tradition, rested upon the Saviour’s breast at the Last Supper, and it was to him that Jesus entrusted His mother in his final agonies on the Cross. The same tradition which tells us these things, tells us he is the author of the Gospel and the three epistles which bear his name; it also tells us he is the author of the vision captured in the ‘Apocalypse’ or ‘Revelation of St John the Divine’. That same tradition tells us that he lived to a great old age.
As the last surviving Apostle, St John provided a direct link back to the earthly ministry of Jesus. Tradition has it that he was much revered by the local community, and that in old age he would be asked often to sum up the message of the Lord Jesus. His answer sometimes disappointed those who expected some profound statement of doctrinal truth. He would say: “My little children, love one another.” After hearing this advice over and over again, several members of the congregation asked St. John: “Master, why do you always say this?” He replied with a gentle smile: “It is the Lord’s command. And if this alone be done, it is enough!”
The image of the last of the Apostles haunted the imagination of the Victorian poet, Robert Browning, who wrote a now all but forgotten poem about his death, called ‘A Death in the Desert’:
If I live yet, it is for good, more love
Through me to men: be nought but ashes here
That keep awhile my semblance, who was John,—
Still, when they scatter, there is left on earth
No one alive who knew (consider this!)
—Saw with his eyes and handled with his hands
That which was from the first, the Word of Life.
How will it be when none more saith ‘I saw’?”
At that point in history, the Apostolic tradition became wholly from memory. But St John had already committed to paper his own account of Jesus, as well as letters to his church and, again if we can credit tradition, written the Revelation whilst in exile on Patmos.
Despite the modern fashion for doubting whether St. John wrote the letters, Gospel and Apocalypse which bear his name, the early church was in no doubt: these books were included in the canon because they were his work; it may be that, as in so much else, we imagine ourselves as so much wiser than the ancients; but it may be, as so often, that we are not so. After all, Polycarp, who was ordained by St John, taught St Irenaeus, and neither of them seemed in any doubt.
The wonderful prologue to the Gospel gives us a true poetic insight into the Divine origin of Jesus, and poses for us the question with which all Christology grapples – how God can have been human and divine – as well as answering it. His understanding that Christ was fully human and fully divine clearly failed to appeal to those who wished to reduce Him to something their imaginations could grasp. St. John was far from meek and mild towards those who denied the truth. This we see in his epistles, but also in the tradition which St. Irenaeus had from Polycarp of his encounter with a notorious heretic Cerinthus in a bath-house. Hearing that the latter was within, John started back, and said “Let us, my brethren, make haste and be gone, lest the bath, wherein is Cerinthus the enemy of the Truth, should fall upon our heads.”
We see the same concern for truth in his epistles, which suggest that not even the witness of the last of the Apostles was enough for some men who claimed to be led by the Spirit. John bore witness to the Truth – a person, not a concept. Like so many of the followers of Jesus, John had seen through a glass darkly, but thereafter he saw in the bright light of the Resurrection. We cannot know precisely why he wrote his Gospel, but we can see clearly enough what drives it – indeed he states as much himself (John 20:31):
these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
It is not like the other Gospels. It tells us but little about the life of Jesus, perhaps assuming that those interested in such things already had access to the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke. But what it does tell us unambiguously is what heretics doubted from reading the other texts – which is that Jesus was Divine. He was the Word who, from the beginning, spoke creation into existence. It is not accidental that he concentrates heavily on Christ’s controversies with His opponents; John faced the same doubters throughout his ministry. He stresses his credentials as an eye-witness, and those who take it upon themselves to doubt his testimony, strike at the heart of what he is about – which is the distinction between truth and falsehood. John is, above all, a witness to the Truth and calls us to believe that Jesus is indeed the Christ.
St John the Evangelist, pray for us!
Nicholas said:
A great piece, C. I hope you have had a happy Christmas and are looking forward to Epiphany. John, as I’ve probably said before, is very important to me. Romans and John the Baptist made me conscious of the Law, but John taught me that Jesus is God and that He is full of grace and truth. John showed me what St Paul meant when he called Jesus the “image of the invisible God”. For John and Romans were for me what Romans was to Luther.
LikeLiked by 2 people
chalcedon451 said:
Thank you. I agree, St John is a vitally important figure for me too, for the same reason. Yes, a restful (and much needed rest) Christmas. I hope your own was a good one?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas said:
Yes, Christmas itself was: everyone enjoyed the presents and we enjoyed the carol services. My father gave me a copy of the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy which will prove very helpful in my teaching career.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
Sounds excellent ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scoop said:
One oddity here: it is only in John that we learn that he was the disciple that Jesus loved etc. or was the beloved. I ponder that at times as to why no others saw this as John saw it. A peculiar deduction that John made concerning himself and no others. My only answer is that he perhaps was the only one of the Apostles that had entered into the ‘spiritual betrothal’ as spoken of by our contemplative saints . . . making him the first contemplative saint of Christianity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
I would say so. I hope your Christmas was a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scoop said:
It was, C. A simple Christmas with just my wife and daughter . . . son could not make it home for the holidays as he was ‘on-call’ during Christmas which is one of the real down sides to being a pharmacist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
I am sure he did much good by being available. I like a quiet domestic Christmas myself ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scoop said:
Indeed so. Hope your’s was just that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
It was – and a much-needed rest too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Scoop said:
I can only imagine. Seems that you have had your share of work for a while now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
Yes, I can only ask the Lord to sustain me in these new labours 🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Scoop said:
Well, God blessed you with more energy than this old man has. Maybe He’ll keep you going strong until you are no longer needed . . . at that rate you may live as long as Methuselah.
LikeLiked by 2 people
chalcedon451 said:
I have certainly never needed a rest as much as this one☺️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Scoop said:
I remember Fr. Benedict Groeschel telling me that he had never been so tired in his life and yet he continued on another 10+ years after he told me that . . . and that was after his accident and his stroke. The energy he had was not his own it seems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
Interesting- and that’s the sort of energy I need ☺️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Scoop said:
I guess its a matter of handling one day at a time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
Ah, I wish it were – it’s the planning months at a time which is tiring
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scoop said:
I was never good at that . . . the best laid plans are based on a moving target and constantly shifting sands. I always ended up disappointed that I couldn’t predict with any accuracy what needed to be done to reach my goal. Planning is overated sometimes I think even though you have to have one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chalcedon451 said:
My view entirely 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brother Burrito said:
Reblogged this on Burrito's Stable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bosco the Great said:
Is good brother John up in paradise fielding prayers 24 hrs a day…….or is he resting from his labours as Jesus promised.
The Hebrews had feast days, but not one of them were dedicated to a human being. Gods religion, Judaism, was all about the invisible God. This other major religion seems to be all about men.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
Perhaps you should convert, Bosco?
LikeLike
Bosco the Great said:
Convert to Judaism? I let the Good Shepherd handle any religious stuff. I just sit back and relax.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
You seem to have no connection with how those who follow Jesus have done so for the last nearly two thousand years. It seems everyone else got it wrong – you’re going to be very lonely in heaven I suspect if you are the only one there.
LikeLike
Bosco the Great said:
Got it wrong? Theres nothing to get. Either one is born again or one isn’t. If youre referring to all the millions of rituals you all do,….youre rite. I don’t do none of that stuff. Jesus burden is light and his yoke is easy.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
As I say, clearly you’ll be the only one in heaven, then, Bosco.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bosco the Great said:
Theres lots more like me buddy pie pie. Ive met enough of them. And we agree on everything except post or pre trib.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
So, you don’t agree on everything, and you believe almost nothing Christians have believed sine the Resurrection? Interesting, sounds like a totally man made set of beliefs designed to make you feel good.
LikeLike
Bosco the Great said:
Hahahahahahahaha. Hey, if only cathols go to heaven, theres a lot in Brazil that don’t want to go to heaven. Hahahahahaha.
Two years ago, 60% of the Brazilian population were practicing Catholics. But that dropped to 50% in 2016 as less people go to church.
The church also does not baptize babies that were not born to parents married by Catholic priests. Divorcees are also banned from the church, either officially or by default, further swelling the ranks of ex-Catholic church goers.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2016/12/27/brazil-jesus-catholic-datafolha-survey/#23c44e9d22d7
I knew divorcees weren’t welcome in the catholic church, but I didn’t know some babies weren’t welcome either. What a horrible devilish perverted cult you got there ol boy. Wont baptize babies that don’t have cathol parents. Even though its a useless tradition to baptize a baby, just the thought that the miserable CC casts out a baby should wake people up.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Open and he will come in and sup with you.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
Everyone is welcome, even you. If you actually knew what you were talking about, you’d know that. How can a non-Catholic parents want a Catholic baptism for their baby? That makes no sense. I am divorced, and I am welcome in Church. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you’re not entitled to make up your own facts.
LikeLike
Bosco the Great said:
I didn’t make this up. Its a news story.Is there a catholic baptism and a protestant baptism?
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
Of course there is. Why would a non-Catholic want a Catholic baptism? That is a commitment to bring your child up as a Catholic.
LikeLike
Bosco the Great said:
This is news to me. So during the catholic baptism the priest says this kid has to be raised catholic? I wonder how they enforce that command. Ah well, religions will be religions.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
That is what the Godparents swear to do. Why would a non-Catholic want a Catholic baptism? Perhaps they are, like you, so ill-informed as to believe it is a kind of magic?
LikeLike
Rob said:
I thought the RCC counted all trinitarian baptisms as Catholic baptism.
LikeLike
chalcedon451 said:
It does, but we were discussing baptising babies, and the Church will not normally baptise a baby unless at least on parent is a Catholic.
LikeLike