Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
John 20:1a and 2-8

 On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

Reflection

There was something unique about John. It was his ability to see and to understand and to discern what was really going on. He had this amazing capacity to see the heart of what Jesus was trying to do, and he had a closeness with Jesus.

And that closeness, I think, was because he had a gift, and the gift that he had was his insight. He recorded things that none of the other disciples recorded. The Wedding at Cana. The Raising of Lazarus. The washing of the feet. What was it that he had? A special gift that enabled him to look at the things that were subtle, personal, intimate.

It's a gift we all long for, the gift to be able to discern and to see deeply into who this person Jesus is.

Closing Prayer

Father, one of the miracles that you performed so often was giving sight to the blind. Give us insight into you, into who you are in us. Help us to see your work in us. Help us to feel the importance of what it is that you've called us to be. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross