John son of Zebedee
Benedict XVI, General Audience, July 5, 2006
Zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters
dedicate today's meeting to remember another important member of the apostolic college: John son of Zebedee and brother of James. His typically Jewish name, meaning "the Lord has given grace." He was mending his nets on the shore of Lake Tiberias when Jesus called him and his brother (cf. Mt 4, 21, Mark 1.19). John is always part of the group that Jesus took with him on certain occasions. He was with Peter and James when Jesus, in Capernaum, enters Peter's house to heal his mother (cf. Mk 1, 29), with the other two followed the Teacher in the house of the synagogue ruler, Jairus, whose daughter will be called to life (cf. Mk 5, 37); followed when he climbed the mountain to be transfigured (cf. Mark 9, 2), is beside the Mount of Olives when before the imposing Temple of Jerusalem he spoke of the end of the city and the world (cf. Mark 13, 3) and, finally, is close to it when in the Garden of Gethsemane, he withdrew to pray to the Father before the Passion (cf. Mark 14, 33). Shortly before Easter, when Jesus chooses two disciples to prepare the room for dinner, I trust him and Pedro this task (cf. Luke 22.8).
prominent position in the group of twelve does in some sense understand the initiative taken one day his mother came to Jesus, asking that her two sons, John and James, could sit down one on his right and the other on your left at the Kingdom (cf. Mt 20, 20-21). As we know, Jesus said turn to pose a question: asked if they were willing to drink the cup that he was about to drink (cf. Mt 20, 22). With these words was to open the eyes of two disciples, introduce them to understanding the mystery of his person and outlines future call to be his witnesses to the supreme test of blood. Shortly after, in fact, Jesus said that He came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many (cf. Mt 20, 28). In the days after the Resurrection, we find the "sons of Zebedee" fishing with Peter and others in a night no results. Following the intervention of the Risen Lord, came the miraculous catch "the disciple whom Jesus loved" would be the first to recognize the "Lord" and to indicate to Peter (cf. John 21, 1-13).
Within the Church of Jerusalem, John occupied an important position in the direction of the first group of Christians. Paul, in fact, places him among those he calls the "pillars" of that community (cf. Galatians 2, 9). Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, presents with Peter while they go to pray at the Temple (Acts 3, 1-4.11), or when appearing before the Sanhedrin to witness their faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4, 13.19). Together with Peter receives the invitation of the Church of Jerusalem to confirm those who accepted the Gospel in Samaria, praying over them to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 8: 14-15). In particular, we must remember what he says, along with Peter to the Sanhedrin, during the process: "We can not stop talking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4, 20). This openness to confess his faith remains an example and a warning to us all that we are ready to declare our unwavering decision commitment to Christ, putting our faith to all human calculation or interest.
According to tradition, John is "the beloved disciple" in the fourth Gospel puts his head on the Master's breast at the Last Supper (cf. John 13, 21), is situated at the foot of the Cross with the Mother of Jesus (cf. John 19, 25) and, finally, is witnessed both the empty tomb and the very presence of the Risen One (cf. Jn 20, 2, 21, 7). We know today that this identification is disputed by experts, as some see him as the prototype of a disciple of Jesus. Leaving the exegetes to clarify the issue, let us be content with learning an important lesson for our lives: the Lord wishes to each of us a disciple who lives a personal friendship with Him to accomplish this is not enough to follow and listen externally, it must also live with Him and like Him This is only possible in the context of a relationship of great familiarity, penetrated by the warmth of total trust. This is what happens between friends: this is why Jesus said one day: "No one has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends ... no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what your love, to you I have called you friends, for everything I've heard from my Father I have made known. " (John 15, 13. 15).
In the apocryphal "Acts of John" the apostle, is not presented as the founder of Churches, even as a guide for a community formed, but as a continuous traveling, a communicator of the faith in the encounter with "souls capable of waiting and of being saved" (18, 10, 23, 8). He pushes the paradoxical desire to make visible the invisible. In fact, the Eastern Church calls him simply "the Theologian", ie which is able to speak in lay terms of the divine, revealing an arcane access to God through adherence to Jesus.
The cult of John the Apostle is said from the city of Ephesus, where according to ancient tradition, have lived for a long time, dying in an extraordinarily advanced age under Emperor Trajan. In Ephesus, the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, built in honor a great basilica, which are still imposing ruins. Precisely in the East and has enjoyed great veneration. In Byzantine icons is represented as very old, tradition has died under Emperor Trajan - and in intense contemplation, with the attitude of one who invites to silence.
In fact, without sufficient recollection is not possible to approach the supreme mystery of God and His revelation. This explains why, years ago, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras, whom Pope Paul VI embraced at a memorable meeting, said: "Juan is at the origin of our highest spirituality. Like him, the "silent" know that mysterious exchange of hearts, they invoke the presence of Juan and his heart was light "(O. Clément," Dialogues with Athenagoras, "Torino 1972, p. 159). May the Lord help us to get in the school of John to learn the great lesson of love so that we feel loved by Christ "to the end" (John 13, 1) and we spend our life for Him
[Translation Italian original by ZENIT]
Benedict XVI, General Audience, July 5, 2006
Zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters
dedicate today's meeting to remember another important member of the apostolic college: John son of Zebedee and brother of James. His typically Jewish name, meaning "the Lord has given grace." He was mending his nets on the shore of Lake Tiberias when Jesus called him and his brother (cf. Mt 4, 21, Mark 1.19). John is always part of the group that Jesus took with him on certain occasions. He was with Peter and James when Jesus, in Capernaum, enters Peter's house to heal his mother (cf. Mk 1, 29), with the other two followed the Teacher in the house of the synagogue ruler, Jairus, whose daughter will be called to life (cf. Mk 5, 37); followed when he climbed the mountain to be transfigured (cf. Mark 9, 2), is beside the Mount of Olives when before the imposing Temple of Jerusalem he spoke of the end of the city and the world (cf. Mark 13, 3) and, finally, is close to it when in the Garden of Gethsemane, he withdrew to pray to the Father before the Passion (cf. Mark 14, 33). Shortly before Easter, when Jesus chooses two disciples to prepare the room for dinner, I trust him and Pedro this task (cf. Luke 22.8).
prominent position in the group of twelve does in some sense understand the initiative taken one day his mother came to Jesus, asking that her two sons, John and James, could sit down one on his right and the other on your left at the Kingdom (cf. Mt 20, 20-21). As we know, Jesus said turn to pose a question: asked if they were willing to drink the cup that he was about to drink (cf. Mt 20, 22). With these words was to open the eyes of two disciples, introduce them to understanding the mystery of his person and outlines future call to be his witnesses to the supreme test of blood. Shortly after, in fact, Jesus said that He came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many (cf. Mt 20, 28). In the days after the Resurrection, we find the "sons of Zebedee" fishing with Peter and others in a night no results. Following the intervention of the Risen Lord, came the miraculous catch "the disciple whom Jesus loved" would be the first to recognize the "Lord" and to indicate to Peter (cf. John 21, 1-13).
Within the Church of Jerusalem, John occupied an important position in the direction of the first group of Christians. Paul, in fact, places him among those he calls the "pillars" of that community (cf. Galatians 2, 9). Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, presents with Peter while they go to pray at the Temple (Acts 3, 1-4.11), or when appearing before the Sanhedrin to witness their faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4, 13.19). Together with Peter receives the invitation of the Church of Jerusalem to confirm those who accepted the Gospel in Samaria, praying over them to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 8: 14-15). In particular, we must remember what he says, along with Peter to the Sanhedrin, during the process: "We can not stop talking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4, 20). This openness to confess his faith remains an example and a warning to us all that we are ready to declare our unwavering decision commitment to Christ, putting our faith to all human calculation or interest.
According to tradition, John is "the beloved disciple" in the fourth Gospel puts his head on the Master's breast at the Last Supper (cf. John 13, 21), is situated at the foot of the Cross with the Mother of Jesus (cf. John 19, 25) and, finally, is witnessed both the empty tomb and the very presence of the Risen One (cf. Jn 20, 2, 21, 7). We know today that this identification is disputed by experts, as some see him as the prototype of a disciple of Jesus. Leaving the exegetes to clarify the issue, let us be content with learning an important lesson for our lives: the Lord wishes to each of us a disciple who lives a personal friendship with Him to accomplish this is not enough to follow and listen externally, it must also live with Him and like Him This is only possible in the context of a relationship of great familiarity, penetrated by the warmth of total trust. This is what happens between friends: this is why Jesus said one day: "No one has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends ... no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what your love, to you I have called you friends, for everything I've heard from my Father I have made known. " (John 15, 13. 15).
In the apocryphal "Acts of John" the apostle, is not presented as the founder of Churches, even as a guide for a community formed, but as a continuous traveling, a communicator of the faith in the encounter with "souls capable of waiting and of being saved" (18, 10, 23, 8). He pushes the paradoxical desire to make visible the invisible. In fact, the Eastern Church calls him simply "the Theologian", ie which is able to speak in lay terms of the divine, revealing an arcane access to God through adherence to Jesus.
The cult of John the Apostle is said from the city of Ephesus, where according to ancient tradition, have lived for a long time, dying in an extraordinarily advanced age under Emperor Trajan. In Ephesus, the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, built in honor a great basilica, which are still imposing ruins. Precisely in the East and has enjoyed great veneration. In Byzantine icons is represented as very old, tradition has died under Emperor Trajan - and in intense contemplation, with the attitude of one who invites to silence.
In fact, without sufficient recollection is not possible to approach the supreme mystery of God and His revelation. This explains why, years ago, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras, whom Pope Paul VI embraced at a memorable meeting, said: "Juan is at the origin of our highest spirituality. Like him, the "silent" know that mysterious exchange of hearts, they invoke the presence of Juan and his heart was light "(O. Clément," Dialogues with Athenagoras, "Torino 1972, p. 159). May the Lord help us to get in the school of John to learn the great lesson of love so that we feel loved by Christ "to the end" (John 13, 1) and we spend our life for Him [Translation Italian original by ZENIT]
Photos: St. John the Apostle Parish in San Antonio, at the foot of the Blessed Christ the Light.
San Juan Apostol, head of our Brotherhood, before its last restoration.
