December 27th Saint John the Apostle (Lead-in: The Apostle John is traditionally considered the author of the Fourth Gospel. )
John, and his brother, James were called by Jesus, from their trade as fishermen, “and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:21b-22) The Gospel of John refers to him as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2). He is present at the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the agony in Gethsemane, and, on the first Easter, is beckoned by Mary Magdalene to the tomb. “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.” (20:8)
The Apostle John is traditionally considered the author of the Fourth Gospel, three New Testament letters and the Book of Revelation. He alone of all the Apostles, was spared a martyr’s death. Early Christian writers testify that John spent his later years in Asia Minor, initially imprisoned on the island of Patmos, and after in Ephesus. It is in Ephesus that tradition tells us John cared for Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and where he died in 100 or 101 AD.
It is Saint John’s Gospel account of Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper, that becomes our prayer today: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” (15:12)