Witness For The Faith
Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist
My dear encountered couples:
Many people who celebrate Christmas do not believe in Jesus Christ. They celebrate the day because everybody else does; it’s a good excuse for an enjoyable day off work. It can be said that Jesus makes the sun shine in the lives of those who don’t believe in him as well as in the lives of those who do. He doesn’t discriminate. He invites everybody to enjoy his birthday.
What the apostle John is trying to do in both his writings today is convince people that Jesus was real, that he was the Son of God who became Man. John had walked and talked and lived with Jesus three years. He heard his words, saw his miracles, experienced his love. On a Friday afternoon he stood at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and saw him die. The following Sunday morning with Peter, he found the tomb empty except for the cloth and the wrappings which had been put on the body of Jesus for his burial.
For those who celebrate Christmas but don’t really believe in the One who the celebration is all about, John does what he can to convince them. At times we can all use some strengthening of our faith. When life does not go well for us, when heaven doesn’t seem to hear our voices, we just might find it helpful to read the testimony of John. He was there, and he knows. He is one of the best witnesses for the faith.
“This is what we proclaim to you,” writes John: “what was from the beginning and what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched - we speak of the word of life.” He speaks of Jesus, Mary’s baby, who grew up to change the world. Read the gospels and epistles. They can do wonders for struggling faith.
