60 / 70
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
1 John 1:1-4
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
John 20:1A AND 2-8
Reflection
Merry Third Day of Christmas! Today is the Feast of St. John, Apostle and
Evangelist. How you ever wondered why we celebrated John’s feast day
during Christmas? Why on the 3rd day of Christmas we leave the joy of the
manger scene to Mary Magdalene’s panic because Jesus’ body has disap-
peared from the tomb? Perhaps we celebrate because John 1st letter speaks
of the “word made flesh,” of “love incarnate” or because he was the
“beloved of the Lord!” Yes, perhaps. What is important is John’s faith and
love.
My 2 year old granddaughter fell in love with Christmas lights this season.
Each evening, she’d plead from her car seat hat we turn any way but home
to catch more dancing lights. During one of our first detours, I was moved
that next to the manger scene, one family decoration also included a rather
large cross illuminated with white lights. Then again, on a separate occasion,
we saw another yard with a beautiful bright cross.
I thought about the crosses in
the yards for awhile. I thought
maybe I missed reading about
what was cool in front yard lights
for 2016. The first cross felt
out of place but when I wit-
nessed the 2nd cross, I paused
for awhile. I thought about the
two families and how they served
as “evangelist” with their simple
reminder that the joyful gift of a
baby in the manger became the
necessary gift of a sacrifice for
our salvation.