Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
A few months ago I had a conversation with a patient who was worried about their salvation. They had been married faithfully for decades. They raised five great children all of whom were still practicing Christians as were their children. This person had gone to Mass weekly and often daily. They had lived the ten commandments well, and still they wondered if they were saved. For generations, people might have wondered if they were saved. The prophets came and reminded the people if they would be faithful God would be with them.
Then finally it happened God broke through in the most visible way. Emmanuel, God is with us, happened. St. John whose feast we celebrate this day describes it this way. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Unlike Luke or Matthew, John gives us the broadest context of the Incarnation. Jesus existed for all time, and came into the world so that we might be saved. John wants those hearing and reading his writings to be focused on the Word, Jesus. First John encourages the whole community to stay focused on Christ. This focus reminds his community and us to find our joy in this God who came to save us.
The gospel account of the resurrection gives us the full glimpse of the reason for the Incarnation. Christ, the Word, dwelt with us so that he could live for us and show us the way through his death and resurrection.
Loving God, give us eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know that a baby born in a manger, came so that we all might have life, now and forever.
Deacon Michael Montgomery