St. John was a beloved, passionate, and faithful disciple. He leaned on the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper and stood by the cross of Jesus with Mary. How blessed are we to have the Gospel of St. John. He is the evangelist who clearly and assuredly testifies, in the Prologue to his Gospel, to the divinity of Jesus as the incarnate Word of God, the Only Begotten Son of the Father. He is also the one who testifies to Jesus’ divinity when he records St. Thomas’ confession of the Risen Jesus as “My Lord and My God”. In our first reading. John assures us that Jesus, the Word of God, has come enfleshed into our world and has been heard, seen, and touched. And John invites us to accept this testimony and enter into communion with the first witnesses and so share in their joy. Today we have to go out like John – walk, run, spread the joy that Jesus Christ is alive and risen. Let the bandages fall from our eyes. Jesus has redeemed us and calls us his children.

Abba Father, empower us to share the Good News. Amen.