True love

The WORD in Other Words by Fr Honorio Mateo SVD (Paraguay) for December 27 – Feast of St John, the Evangelist

We are on the third day of the Octave of Christmas. The Church prolongs the   celebration of Christmas for eight days (octave), from December 25 up to January 1, and invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the incarnation. 

Today is also   the feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist.   Saint John is known as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” John was part of the   inner circle of Jesus disciples. He was always present in the major events of Jesus’ life and mission. At the foot of the cross, John remained while the rest fled. It was also   to John that Jesus entrusted the care of the Blessed Mother. And today‘s gospel tells   us that John was one of the first witnesses of Jesus resurrection. 

The Church tradition   holds that Saint John wrote the Gospel of John, three pastoral letters and the Book of Revelation. The first reading today explains to us the reason behind the books of Saint John: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. The Church tradition tells us that Saint John died at a very old   age. And the message of all his books and preaching is LOVE. “God is love. Whoever   lives in love, lives in God, and God in him (1 Jn. 4: 16).   

So on the third day of the octave of Christmas, the Church invites us to relish   once more the message of Christ s birth. God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son (Jn. 3; 16). Christmas is all about love. And Jesus is my true love sent to me.