Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:44 pm Post subject: Reflections on John the Apostle and Evangelist |
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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--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--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. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete. Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
St. John, the Apostle who stood at the base of the cross, evangelized the Word. He testifies to what he saw, what he heard, and what he knew to always have been. He testifies that for life eternal, we must seek walk truthfully in the light of the Lord for He knows what is in our hearts. We may be able to deceive those around us, but there is no deceit of the Lord.
God knows the sin within us and the pain which it causes. Sin is a burden we carry, but it is also a burden He will lift from us if we contritely ask Him into our lives. When we acknowledge our sins, we see the pain it causes others; and when we cause pain to others, we cause pain for ourselves. Through sin, our soul is wounded and though we may try to deny the wounds, they will only grow and fester within us; growing only to destroy us.
There is no harm that we cause another which does not harm us as well. To think otherwise is to deceive ourselves. To ignore the impacts of our sins may be possible for a time, but it cannot be hidden forever, what we do and what we fail to do will forever be with us unless we seek His salvation. Only then will we be cleansed. Through Him, the wounds of our soul may be healed; his wounds offered in our place.
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. 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.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. ( John 20:1-8 )
St. John, the Apostle, the evangelist; testifies to what he saw, to what he heard, to what he at first did not understand, but then came to believe. What occurred before him could not be hidden. The news was so great it must be spread to the world and through all the generations; the news that through the suffering of our Lord, His death, and His resurrection all of the children of God may be cleansed of their sins; through His sacrifice, all may be saved.
St. John tells us of this time which so affected the world. Blessed are we to hear and read his account of what he witnessed. Blessed are we to know the good news. Let us rejoice in what has been revealed to us. Let us share in it through the lives we lead and what we may do for one another in fulfillment of the commandments of the Lord. In prayer, let us reflect upon what we have been told; let us reflect upon the Word and what its meaning is to our passing days and the life of our souls eternal. In prayer, let us give thanks and praise for what was done for us that we may share in the kingdom of heaven.
May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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