marymajor's Diary: December 27

On December 27 the Church honors and remembers St. John, Apostle and Evangelist,
c. 6BC to 104AD.

“3rd day within the Octave of Christmas”


From the Missal in celebration of St. John, Apostle.
“St. John is the Apostle who Jesus loved. It was he who reclined on the bosom of the Savior at the Last Supper. He is the author of the sublime Gospel, which so emphatically proclaims the Divinity of Christ. To him also our Lord, hanging on the Cross, entrusted His Beloved Mother. He died about the year 100.”

In the midst of the assembly the Lord opened his mouth; and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; He clothed him with a robe of glory (Ecclesiastes 15, 5).

Prayer: O Lord, in Your goodness, shine upon Your Church, that, enlightened by the teachings of Blessed John, Your Apostle and Evangelist, she may attain to everlasting gifts.

He who fears God will do good; he who is practiced in the Law will come to wisdom. Like an honorable mother she will meet him, nourish him with the bread of life and understanding, and give him the water of learning to drink. She will be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved; she will hold him fast, and he shall not be put to shame. She will exalt him above his fellows; in the midst of the assembly she will open his mouth, and will fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and will clothe him with a robe of glory. The Lord our God will heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and will cause him to inherit an everlasting name, Thanks be to God. (Ecclesiastes 15, 1-6).

A saying went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple was not to die. But Jesus had not said, “He is not to die,” but rather, “So I wish him to remain until I come. Follow Me.” (John 21, 23, 19.)

This is the disciple who bears witness concerning these things: and we know that his witness is true. Alleluia (John 21, 24).

The just man shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow (Psalms 91, 13).

Peter and John answered, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right, in God’s sight for us to obey you rather than God. Surely we cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen” (Acts 4:19-20).


From the Bible, the books written by John, Apostle:
Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you do not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go thy way, thy son lives” (John 4:48-50).

I write of what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have handled: of the Word of Life…And these things we write to you that you may rejoice, and our joy may be full (1 John 1:1).

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one. I am writing to you, little ones, because you know the Father. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have conquered the evil one (1 John 2:12-14).

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. And everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this has the love of God been shown in our case, that God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we may live through him. In this is the love, not that we have loved God, but that he has first loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. In this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father has sent his Son to be Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God (1 John 4:7-15).

This is he who came in water and in blood, Jesus Christ; not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness that Christ is the truth. For there are three that bear witness [in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth]: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God which is greater, that he has borne witness concerning his Son (1 John 5:6-9).

Look to yourselves, that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward (2 John 1:8).

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but that which is good. He who does what is good is of God; he who does what is evil has not seen God (3 John 1:11).

The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him, to make known to his servants the things that must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified them through his angel to his servant John; who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to whatever he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand (The Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle (Revelation) 1:1-3).

And they ((angels)) said to me, “Thou must prophesy again to many nations and peoples and tongues and kings.” And there was given me a reed like a rod, and I was told: “Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar and those who worship therein” (Revelation 10:11, 11:1).

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things concerning the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star…And let him who thirsts come; and he who wishes, let him receive the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:16, 17).