Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist – Lectionary: 697

Running Toward the Light

Some moments are so real, so piercingly alive, that they refuse to stay private and almost demand to be shared. That is the kind of moment that fills today’s readings for the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist: the Church invites you into the living memory of a man who saw, heard, and even touched the incarnate Son of God, then spent the rest of his life helping others step into that same light. How different would daily life look if the Resurrection felt as concrete and close as something your own hands had handled and your own eyes had seen?

In 1 John 1:1 4, the beloved disciple speaks like a witness on the stand who cannot forget what has been burned into his memory. He points to “what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands” and identifies all of this with “the Word of life”. According to CCC 514, the Church insists that everything about Jesus that truly matters for salvation comes from such apostolic witnesses, those who walked with Him in history. John’s goal is not to offer an interesting spiritual idea but to draw believers into fellowship with the Father and the Son, so that joy may be complete. This is not abstract mysticism; it is concrete communion rooted in historical encounters with the risen Lord.

Psalm 97 zooms out to a cosmic scale and shows what happens when that same Word of Life is recognized as King. The psalm paints a world that trembles and rejoices in the presence of the Lord: “The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice”, and “Light dawns for the just, and gladness for the honest of heart”. What John experienced in a very personal way in the Upper Room and at the empty tomb is the same reality that Psalm 97 declares over the whole universe. The hidden God surrounded by “cloud and darkness” reveals that the foundation of His throne is “justice and right”, and that revelation brings both fear and joy. The heavens proclaim His justice, and all peoples see His glory, which prepares the heart to recognize the risen Christ as the definitive manifestation of that glory, just as CCC 654 teaches that the Resurrection is the source of new life and justification.

Then the Gospel of John 20:1 8 takes you into the hushed early morning of the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene runs from the tomb in confusion, Peter runs in his impetuous way, and the beloved disciple runs with love sharpened by intimacy. The details matter: the stone removed, the burial cloths lying there, the head cloth rolled up separately. These signs are not cinematic decorations; they are the careful observations of someone who was there. The Gospel simply says of the beloved disciple, “he saw and believed”. CCC 642 644 explains that the faith of the first witnesses was born from concrete encounters with the risen Jesus and the empty tomb, not from vague spiritual optimism. John’s racing footsteps toward the tomb and his interior movement from bewilderment to belief are offered as a pattern for every Christian heart that is willing to look closely and respond in trust.

Taken together, today’s readings form a single invitation. The beloved disciple does not present Christianity as a philosophy but as a relationship with the Word of Life who stepped into history, conquered death, and now reigns as the radiant King who brings light to the just and gladness to honest hearts. This feast day invites you to let John’s eyewitness testimony move from the page into your own life, so that fellowship with the Father and the Son becomes real, and so that joy does not remain a distant promise but grows into something complete and overflowing. Are you willing to run toward the light with that same humble, trusting love that allowed John to see and believe?

First Reading – 1 John 1:1-4

Eyewitness Of The Word Of Life

This reading from 1 John 1:1 4 comes from the heart of an apostle who actually walked with Jesus and saw the Resurrection change everything. Saint John writes to a community facing confusion, false teaching, and the temptation to reduce Jesus to an idea instead of a real, living Person. In that context, he insists on concrete experience: hearing, seeing, and touching the Word of Life. On this feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, the Church holds up his testimony as the bridge between the historical Jesus and the faith of believers today. The same Jesus whom John saw in the flesh is the risen Lord of John 20:1 8 and the radiant King of Psalm 97. This short passage shows how personal encounter with Christ becomes proclamation, fellowship, and complete joy.

1 John 1:1-4 – New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Word of Life

¹ What was from the beginning,
    what we have heard,
    what we have seen with our eyes,
    what we looked upon
    and touched with our hands
    concerns the Word of life—
² for the life was made visible;
    we have seen it and testify to it
    and proclaim to you the eternal life
    that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
³ what we have seen and heard
    we proclaim now to you,
    so that you too may have fellowship with us;
    for our fellowship is with the Father
    and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
⁴ We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life.”
John points to the eternal origin of Christ, echoing the opening of the Gospel of John and Genesis. The Word is not a new fad but the One who existed from the beginning. At the same time, John stresses sensory contact: hearing, seeing, looking closely, and touching. Faith rests on real encounters with the incarnate Word, not on vague spirituality.

Verse 2 – “For the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us.”
Here, “life” is a title for Christ Himself. The invisible God has made eternal life visible in Jesus. John takes up three roles: he sees, he testifies, and he proclaims. What was with the Father from all eternity has entered history. The apostolic mission is to announce this so that others can share the same life.

Verse 3 – “What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
John explains the purpose of his preaching. It is not just to inform but to draw the community into “fellowship,” a deep communion of life and love. To be in communion with the apostles is to be in communion with the Father and the Son. The Church is not just a human club but the living space where this divine fellowship is shared.

Verse 4 – “We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.”
The goal of this letter is joy that is full, not partial. Joy becomes complete when others come to share the same faith and communion. For John, evangelization is not a burden but the overflow of joy in knowing Christ. When others enter into that life, the joy of the whole Church increases.

Teachings

This passage highlights how God reveals Himself through real events and trustworthy witnesses. According to CCC 76, “In keeping with the Lord’s command, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: orally… and in writing.” The apostles, including John, are the living foundation of that transmission. Their testimony is not optional background but the very channel through which Christ reaches new generations.

The letter also shows that Christian faith is communion. CCC 949 teaches that the early Church lived “a communion of faith… of the sacraments… of charisms.” John says that fellowship with the apostles is fellowship with the Father and the Son. That is exactly what happens in the Church through baptism, the Eucharist, and the other sacraments.

Finally, this reading reveals the deep link between faith and joy. CCC 736 speaks of the Spirit giving believers a foretaste of the joy of heaven. John writes so that joy may be complete. Christian joy is not shallow positivity but the fruit of knowing that eternal life has appeared in Christ and is truly offered here and now.

Reflection

This reading invites every believer to move from secondhand religion into personal encounter. John speaks as someone who has seen and heard Christ. Today, that encounter happens through Scripture, the sacraments, prayer, and the life of the Church. Are there places in daily life where the presence of Jesus has already been “made visible,” but perhaps has not been noticed or named?

John’s joy grows as he shares the Word of Life. The same pattern holds for every Christian. Sharing what God has done, even in small ways, deepens faith and joy. That might look like a simple conversation, a short testimony at a retreat, or a quiet act of mercy that reflects Christ to someone who feels forgotten. Where is the Lord inviting a step from silence to simple, humble proclamation?

This passage also challenges isolation. Fellowship with the Father and the Son is inseparable from fellowship with the Church. Real spiritual growth happens in community, not in private spirituality that avoids other people. Is there a concrete step that can be taken this week to lean into Christian fellowship, maybe through Mass, Confession, a Bible study, or a friendship rooted in prayer?

As this feast of Saint John is celebrated, the heart is gently called to let the Word of Life move from the page into experience, from experience into proclamation, and from proclamation into a deeper, more complete joy in communion with God and with His people.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

The King Whose Light Breaks Through The Darkness

Psalm 97 is a royal hymn that proclaims the Lord as King over all the earth, not only over Israel. It likely arose in a liturgical setting where the people celebrated God’s kingship in the Temple, surrounded by images of clouds, fire, and mountains that echo earlier revelations like Mount Sinai. The psalm presents a God who is both veiled in mystery and radiant in glory. That tension fits perfectly with today’s theme. Saint John speaks of the Word of Life made visible, and the Gospel shows the beloved disciple coming to belief at the empty tomb. Psalm 97 gives the cosmic backdrop: the same Lord who reigns in hidden majesty is the One whose light dawns for the just, inviting them into joy and communion.

Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 – New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Divine Ruler of All

¹ The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice;
    let the many islands be glad.
² Cloud and darkness surround him;
    justice and right are the foundation of his throne.

⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
⁶ The heavens proclaim his justice;
    all peoples see his glory.

¹¹ Light dawns for the just,
    and gladness for the honest of heart.
¹² Rejoice in the Lord, you just,
    and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.”
This opening line declares that God is not a local deity but the true King of all creation. “The many islands” points beyond Israel to distant nations. The reign of God is good news that brings rejoicing, not dread, for those who long for justice and mercy.

Verse 2 – “Cloud and darkness surround him; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.”
The imagery of cloud and darkness recalls Exodus and the presence of God on Sinai. God is near yet hidden, beyond full comprehension. At the same time, the psalm insists that the core of His rule is moral: His throne rests on justice and right. According to CCC 210, “After Israel’s sin, when the people had turned away from God to worship the golden calf, God hears Moses’ prayer… and agrees to walk in the midst of an unfaithful people, showing that his love is stronger than death and sin.” The God whose presence can be terrifying is also steadfast in love and goodness.

Verse 5 – “The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.”
Mountains symbolize stability and strength. If even they melt before the Lord, then no earthly power or obstacle can stand against Him. The language underlines His absolute sovereignty. Every created thing is fragile before the Creator.

Verse 6 – “The heavens proclaim his justice; all peoples see his glory.”
Creation itself becomes a kind of preacher. The sky, the stars, and all the visible world announce the justice and glory of God. CCC 32 affirms this when it says, “From the movement and becoming, as from the contingency of the world, one can conclude to the existence of a reality that is its cause, its first mover, its necessary being, which we call God.” All peoples are invited to see this glory. The psalm anticipates the universal call of the Gospel.

Verse 11 – “Light dawns for the just, and gladness for the honest of heart.”
Here the psalm shifts to those who respond to God’s kingship with integrity. For them, light is not an abstract image. It is the concrete experience of guidance, consolation, and hope in the midst of darkness. Gladness is the fruit of trusting that God’s justice will prevail.

Verse 12 – “Rejoice in the Lord, you just, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
The just are called to rejoice and to give thanks whenever they remember who God is. His holiness is not cold distance but blazing love that purifies and saves. Remembering His holiness stirs gratitude and praise rather than fear.

Teachings

This psalm affirms that God’s kingship is universal, just, and joyful. CCC 450 teaches, “From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ’s lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power.” When Psalm 97 says, “The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice”, it points forward to the full revelation of that kingship in Christ.

The psalm also highlights natural revelation. Creation proclaims God’s justice and glory, which aligns with CCC 1147, “God speaks to man through the visible creation. The material cosmos is so presented to man’s intelligence that he can read there traces of its Creator.” For Saint John, who saw and believed at the empty tomb, the same Creator who shaped the mountains and heavens is the One who raised Jesus from the dead.

Finally, the promise that “light dawns for the just” connects to the inner work of grace. CCC 1996 explains, “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us.” The dawning light in Psalm 97 is a beautiful image of that grace breaking into the heart, leading to conversion, joy, and deeper communion with God.

Reflection

This psalm invites believers to live as people who truly know that the Lord is King. That means trusting His justice when the world feels chaotic, and remembering that no “mountain” of fear, sin, or confusion can ultimately stand before Him. Where are the mountains in life that need to be surrendered to the Lord’s presence and power?

The verses about light and gladness challenge the heart to stay honest and upright, even when darkness feels thick. Integrity, prayer, and fidelity to the sacraments open the soul to that quiet dawn of God’s light. What concrete choice toward honesty, purity, or justice can be made this week to welcome more of that light?

Finally, rejoicing in the Lord and giving thanks at the remembrance of His holiness is a very practical spiritual habit. Daily gratitude, even for small signs of God’s goodness, trains the heart to see His glory in ordinary moments. How might a simple habit of thanksgiving each day begin to change the way God’s kingship and light are experienced in everyday life?

Holy Gospel – John 20:1-8

The Beloved Disciple Who Runs, Sees, And Believes

This Gospel from John 20:1-8 takes place on the first day of the week, early in the morning of the Resurrection. In Jewish culture, the first day signaled a new beginning, and here it becomes the dawn of a new creation. Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the beloved disciple move in a world of grief, confusion, and fear after the crucifixion. The tomb is outside the city, a place of silence and death, yet this is where the Father chooses to reveal that Jesus has conquered the grave. On the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, this passage shows how love, attentiveness, and obedience prepare the heart to recognize the risen Lord. It connects perfectly with the day’s theme. The same disciple who later writes in 1 John 1:1-4 about what he has seen and touched is the one who runs to the empty tomb, enters, sees, and believes. His personal encounter with the Resurrection becomes the foundation of the Church’s proclamation and the path into fellowship and joy.

John 20:1-8 – New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Empty Tomb. ¹ On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” ³ So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. ⁴ They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; ⁵ he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. ⁶ When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, ⁷ and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. ⁸ Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.”
The “first day of the week” hints at a new creation, echoing Genesis. The note that it is still dark captures both physical and spiritual darkness. Mary comes in love and grief, expecting to find a dead body, not an empty tomb. The removed stone signals that something decisive has happened, although she does not yet understand that it is Resurrection.

Verse 2 – “So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.’”
Mary’s reaction is honest and very human. She assumes a human explanation, such as theft or relocation of the body. Her running shows urgency and love. She goes straight to Peter and the beloved disciple, recognizing their leadership and closeness to Jesus. Her words set the stage for their journey of faith.

Verse 3 – “So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.”
Hearing Mary’s report, the two leading figures in the Johannine community set out. The simplicity of the line underlines their obedience. They do not argue about what might have happened. They go to see for themselves. Faith often begins with this kind of movement toward the Lord, even before full understanding.

Verse 4 – “They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.”
The beloved disciple outruns Peter, which tradition has often read as the speed of love. His deeper intimacy with Jesus drives him forward with eagerness. Peter’s slower pace does not diminish his role. Both are necessary. The Church needs both the passionate love of John and the steady leadership of Peter.

Verse 5 – “He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.”
The beloved disciple arrives first but holds back. He shows reverence and deference to Peter as the one chosen to shepherd the flock. He “sees” but only from the outside. There is a kind of threshold moment here, where love waits for rightful authority, showing that personal intimacy with Jesus and obedience to the Church go together.

Verse 6 – “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there.”
Peter goes straight in. This boldness matches his character in the Gospels. He sees the same evidence as John, the burial cloths without the body. The scene underlines Peter’s role as the first to enter into the mystery as leader, even though his understanding will grow over time.

Verse 7 – “And the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.”
This small detail matters. The head cloth is rolled up and placed separately, which rules out the idea of a rushed grave robbery. It suggests order and intentionality. The Resurrection is not chaos. It is a divine act carried out with calm authority. The signs inside the tomb are subtle but powerful for hearts that are open.

Verse 8 – “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.”
This is the turning point. John enters, sees the same signs Peter saw, and responds with faith. He does not yet fully grasp the scriptural prophecies, but his love and openness allow him to make the leap of trust. The beloved disciple becomes the model of a heart that lets evidence, memory, and grace come together in a personal act of belief in the risen Lord.

Teachings

This Gospel scene is one of the foundational testimonies of the Resurrection. CCC 640 notes how the empty tomb is a sign that prepares for faith, stating, “The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter events is the empty tomb. It is not in itself a direct proof of the Resurrection; the absence of Christ’s body from the tomb could be explained otherwise. Nonetheless the empty tomb was still an essential sign for all. Its discovery by the disciples was the first step toward recognizing the very fact of the Resurrection.” The beloved disciple moves from this first step to full belief.

The role of witnesses is central. CCC 642 teaches, “Everything that happened during those Paschal days involves each of the apostles, and Peter in particular, in the building of the new era begun on Easter morning.” Peter and John are not telling a myth. They are reporting what they saw. Their testimony is the bedrock of the Church’s faith.

The reaction of John highlights how love makes faith more ready. Saint Augustine reflects on this passage and sees in the faster running of the beloved disciple the swiftness of love, while Peter entering first represents the primacy of ecclesial authority. Love and authority are not rivals. They work together in the Church to guard and transmit the mystery. This matches CCC 144, which says, “To obey (from the Latin ob audire, to hear or listen to) in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself.” John’s obedience of faith is born from hearing, seeing, and then entrusting himself to the risen Lord.

Reflection

This Gospel gently asks every believer to consider how they respond when life feels dark or confusing. Mary runs in grief. Peter runs in responsibility. John runs in love. All three move toward Jesus, even though they do not fully understand what has happened. When confusion, loss, or fear show up, is the heart running toward the Lord or away from Him?

The detail that John waits for Peter invites a healthier view of the Church. Deep personal love for Jesus is beautiful, but it belongs inside obedience to the authority Christ has given His Church. Are there areas where the heart trusts personal feelings more than the guidance of the Church, and where a step toward humble obedience might open up deeper faith?

Finally, the line “he saw and believed” is incredibly simple and incredibly challenging. John does not have every answer, but he lets what he sees, what he remembers, and the quiet work of grace lead him into trust. That is the essence of discipleship. In daily life, that might look like choosing prayer when anxiety hits, choosing Confession when sin weighs heavily, or choosing the Eucharist even when emotions feel flat. What concrete step of trust can be taken this week that mirrors John’s decision to enter the “tomb” of confusion, look honestly at reality, and let faith in the risen Lord shape the response?

The beloved disciple stands in this Gospel as a kind of mirror. The same Jesus who left the burial cloths folded in quiet victory is alive now, inviting believers to run toward Him, to see the subtle signs of His presence, and to answer with a simple, wholehearted, and persevering belief.

Stepping Into The Light With The Beloved Disciple

Today’s readings draw a single beautiful line from the empty tomb to the depths of the human heart. In 1 John 1:1-4, the apostle insists that faith is rooted in real encounter. He speaks of “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands” and names this as “the Word of life”. The goal is simple and profound. He writes so that there may be true fellowship with the Father and the Son, and so that joy may be complete.

Psalm 97 pulls the camera back and shows that the same Word of Life is also the King of all the earth. The psalm proclaims, “The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice” and promises that “Light dawns for the just, and gladness for the honest of heart”. The God who seems veiled in “cloud and darkness” is at the same time the One whose throne rests on justice and right, and who wants His light to break into every honest heart that turns toward Him in trust.

In John 20:1 8, this cosmic King steps into the story in the most intimate way. Mary runs in grief, Peter runs in duty, and the beloved disciple runs in love. He reaches the tomb, waits in reverence, then enters, sees, and believes. The details of the empty tomb are not random. They are gentle signs meant to lead willing hearts into Easter faith. John’s loving gaze turns evidence into encounter and encounter into belief.

Taken together, these readings invite a simple but demanding response. The Lord asks for hearts that move toward Him in the dark, that accept His kingship with rejoicing, and that are willing to let His light expose and heal every hidden place. Where is the Lord asking for a step of honest trust, even when feelings are confused or heavy? What would it look like to let His light dawn more fully in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the way others are treated each day?

The Feast of Saint John quietly reminds every disciple that Christianity is not just a set of ideas but a shared life with the risen Jesus. The beloved disciple saw and believed so that others could hear his testimony, enter into that same fellowship, and taste that same complete joy. Today is a good day to ask for the grace to run toward the Lord with that same love, to let His light define reality more than fear or sin, and to allow the Word of Life to move from the page into lived, daily communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Engage with Us!

Feel free to share what touched your heart most from today’s readings in the comments below. Your reflections, struggles, and insights can really help others see how the Word of Life is moving in real lives today.

1. First Reading – 1 John 1:1-4: Where have you recently “seen” or “heard” the Lord at work in your life, and how might sharing that experience with someone else deepen both your faith and theirs?
2. Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 97: What “mountains” in your life need to melt before the Lord’s presence, and how can you cooperate with His light so that gladness can grow in an honest and upright heart?
3. Holy Gospel – John 20:1-8: When life feels dark or confusing, do you tend to run toward Jesus like Mary, Peter, and John, or pull back in fear, and what concrete step can you take this week to “see and believe” more deeply in the risen Lord?

May every reflection draw you closer to the Heart of Jesus, so that faith shapes decisions, hope steadies every trial, and love becomes the motive behind every word and action. With the grace of God, live each day with the faith, love, and mercy that Jesus has taught, and let His light shine through every part of your life.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in You!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! 

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