MONDAY, December 28 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (tr.)

The Gospel of John and the three short epistles that bear his name were clearly written by the same person, but was it John the son of Zebedee, the disciple we commemorate today, usually identified as "the disciple whom Jesus loved?" Possibly so. Scholars debate that point, but in none of these four New Testament works does the author give his name.

He refers to himself often in the epistles (though never identifying himself), speaking of his reasons for writing and what he hopes for his readers. But in the gospel he remains virtually invisible, probably on purpose, referring to himself only in the final two verses, first to say that we can trust what he says because he was there and knows what he's talking about, and then with a sly little "I suppose" when alluding to the many marvels and mysteries he was unable to include in this short piece of writing. John--or whoever it was--sought to stay out of sight because he wanted to direct our attention to Jesus, the Word made flesh. He knew it was not about him. It's not about us, either. It's always about Jesus.

PRAY for the Diocese of Yukon (British Columbia and the Yukon, Canada)

Ps 92; Exodus 33:18-23; 1 John 1:1-9