December 27 2017 - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist - Patron of the Diocese of Cleveland

St. John the Apostle is often depicted in art with his head resting on the breast of Christ, as he does at the Last Supper. Among the apostles, it was John alone who remained at Christ’s side at the crucifixion. John, in a sense, is among the first-born of the apostles, along with Peter, James, the Lord’s inner-circle. So how fitting it is to celebrate the apostle’s feast in such proximity to the Lord’s birthday, which John described in his Gospel, as the Word becoming flesh.

St. Ireneaus, bishop of Lyons around the year 200, reported with assurance: “John, the disciple of the Lord, who rested on the heart of Jesus, wrote a Gospel when he was in Ephesus.” Ireneaus, of course, was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who died around 156, and who was made bishop of Smyrna by St. John himself. Remaining so close to the Lord, it is no wonder that his Gospel is among the most mystical, filled with the most intense insight into the divine identity of the Lord.

In the Gospel for today’s feast, we read John’s own account of the morning of that first Easter. Upon hearing the news of the empty tomb, John sprints ahead of St. Peter to reach the Lord’s resting place. Was it his youthfulness or his intense love of the Lord which allowed him to reach the tomb first? Probably a little bit of both. Peter was likely weighed down by the guilt of having denied the Lord, during the Passion, while John had remained faithful. John, in his humility, though, shows deference to the Prince of the Apostles, by allowing Peter to enter the tomb first.

His humility may be a bit surprising, as elsewhere in the Gospel, John shows a thunderous temperament, wanting to call fire down from heaven on a group of unwelcoming Samaritans. Jesus, in fact, calls John, and his brother James, the sons of thunder.

We know, though, that the thunderous temperament of John was indeed tempered into a pure and zealous love of the Lord. After the resurrection, John preached the Gospel fearlessly, he was arrested, tortured, and exiled to the island of Patmos, from which he wrote his three new testament epistles, and continued to shepherd the Church with great pastoral care.

After his death, the bishop Polycrates testified that John’s body was returned to Ephesus, where he was once bishop and caretaker of the blessed Virgin Mary.

St. John is the patron of the diocese of Cleveland, and he is a powerful example to all of us: of zealous love for the Lord, temper under control, mystical prayer, devotion to the Blessed Virgin, tireless pastor, who used his intellectual gifts to combat the errors plaguing his flock and bestowing to the Church of all ages, a portrait of piercing insight of the Lord Jesus. May we know continuously the example and heavenly intercession of so great a patron saint for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the Church of Cleveland under the patronage of St. John, apostle and evangelist, and particularly for Bishop Nelson Perez, that together we may witness faithfully and tirelessly to the truth of the Gospel

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord