December 27, 2025 • 34 mins
We follow Saint John from the shore of Galilee to the upper room, from Calvary to Patmos, to learn how the Sacred Heart shapes discipleship, prayer, and mission. Scripture, the Catechism, the Fathers, and sacred art guide us into Eucharistic intimacy and merciful witness.
• John’s call as a model of total discipleship
• The Last Supper and resting on Christ’s heart
• Calvary, blood and water, and the sacraments
• Johannine theology of love and the Incarnation
• First epistle on concrete charity and mercy
• Patmos, hope, and divine mercy for the faithful
• Early Church Fathers’ testimony about John
• Icons and art as visual catechesis
• Modern discipleship lessons of receptivity, fidelity, humility, mission
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:11):
Hello family, welcome to Journeys of Faith
Super Saints Podcast at BrotherJoseph Ryaldenhoven here at your
service.
Be sure to look at thedescription for special
information of interest to youand from fisherman to theologian
Saint John the Evangelist.
In the living memory of thechurch woven into the tapestry
(00:31):
of sacred tradition andscripture, we discover figures
who speak intimately to oursearch for Christ's heart.
Among these Saint John theEvangelist stands out, not
merely as a humble Galileanfisherman, but as a beloved
disciple whose witness peelsback the veil, revealing the
sacred heart of Jesus in all itsdivine vulnerability and
(00:56):
life-giving power.
At Journeys of Faith werecognize in Saint John a model
of that total discipleship towhich every Catholic is called,
from the first hesitant call onthe Sea of Galilee to standing
steadfast beneath the cross,John's life invites us to move
(01:17):
from knowledge about Jesus tounion with his heart.
Saint John's gospel and epistlesresound with the echoes of
heavenly mysteries, histestimony entrusted to the
church to ignite ardor in thehearts of the faithful.
How remarkable it is as thecatechism teaches that God
(01:37):
reveals himself most perfectlythrough his son, CCC sixty five
two thousand seven hundredseventeen, yet chooses humble
witnesses to communicate thislove to the world.
Time and again, throughEucharistic miracles, Marian
apparitions, and the heritage ofthe saints, we see this love
(01:59):
continue to touch generations.
For those on pilgrimage, bothphysical and spiritual, Saint
John anchors us to the heartthat beats at the center of
salvation history, and join usarmchair pilgrims and seekers of
holiness as we journey withSaint John.
Let us rediscover how theevangelist points always and
everywhere to the sacred heartof Jesus, a heart still offered
(02:22):
for the world, so together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit with
one vision, we may answer thecall to deep conversion and
everlasting communion with theGod who loves us.
Heaven, our true goal, beckons.
Called from the nets, John'sfirst encounter with Christ.
Picture the Sea of Galilee atdawn, its silver surface
(02:44):
reflecting a sky on the edge ofrevelation.
Saint John the Evangelist, theyoungest son of Zebede, is
there, shoulders weary, handscallous by the day's labor, yet
heart restless for somethingmore.
It is here amid the sturdycertainties of nets and boats
that Jesus passes by and uttersa command that echoes through
(03:05):
centuries, follow me and I willmake you fishers of men.
Matthew 4 19.
The gospel show us a moment, aholy invitation when John with
his brother James leaves behindnot only his nets but also the
old rhythms of life, entrustingeverything to the unknown yet
all knowing Christ.
(03:25):
At once they left their nets andfollowed him, Mark 118.
It is a total surrender, thekind of response that the
catechism, CCC five hundred andforty-six, describes as the
essence of discipleship, towelcome the word with a heart
ready to be transformed.
John's first encounter is morethan a physical meeting, it is a
lightning strike of grace.
(03:46):
Like Abraham stepping into theunknown or Peter casting his net
on the master's word, Johnreveals the posture of every
true disciple, docility,obedience, and generous courage.
Saint Bede writes, they lefttheir nets, that is the old life
and all that was theirs, andfollowed him with undivided
(04:07):
hearts.
Saint John's prompt yes is atestimony to the power of
Christ's call and thewillingness it summons in those
who are attentive.
This first step, simple yetradical, makes John a model for
all who desire holiness.
What began on the shore, humbly,almost quietly, would prepare
him for the intimate mysteries,reclining on Christ's heart at
(04:27):
the Last Supper, standing at thefoot of the cross and witnessing
the resurrection.
Let anyone who feels unworthy ortoo ordinary gaze at the rough
nets left behind and be remindedChrist calls, not the already
perfect, but the receptive.
Those who listen and leave allfor love are promised to share
(04:50):
in miracles yet unseen.
Do not be afraid.
Henceforth you will be catchingmen.
Luke 5 10.
And so John's journey of faithbegins, just as ours can.
Whenever we dare to leave thesafe shoreline and trust the
Master's voice, take the nextstep on your journey of faith.
(05:12):
Saint John the Evangelist callsus to deeper intimacy with the
sacred heart of Jesus, a lovethat transforms, sanctifies, and
sends us forth.
At Journeys of Faith, ourmission is to help you answer
that call.
If you're longing to draw closerto Jesus through Scripture, the
teachings of the Church, and thewitness of the saints, let us
(05:33):
walk with you every day.
Here's how you can respondtoday.
Explore powerful devotionalresources.
Visit our large online Catholicgift shop to find handpicked
books, prayer cards, rosaries,and art dedicated to Saint John
the Sacred Heart and countlessbeloved saints.
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(05:56):
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(06:16):
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Evangelize with us.
Share our trusted materials withyour parish or prayer group, or
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authentic Catholic gifts.
Let us journey together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit,
with one vision, until we reachour final home in heaven, visit
(06:36):
journeys of faith, and stepboldly into the next chapter of
your spiritual life.
The beloved disciple at the LastSupper.
The mystery of the sacred heartof Jesus radiates brilliantly in
that upper room where theeternal high priest instituted
the Eucharist.
Among the apostles reclined atthe table, it is Saint John the
(06:57):
Evangelist, the beloveddisciple, who draws closer than
any other.
One of his disciples, whom Jesusloved, was lying close to the
breast of Jesus, John 13, 23,RSVCE.
This intimate gesture handeddown by Sacred Scripture
signifies not only a closenessof friendship, but a profound
(07:20):
receptivity to the beating heartof Christ and by extension to
his divine love.
In that moment, while darknessgathered in Jerusalem, John's
proximity was not accidental.
The catechism attests theEucharist is the source and
summit of the Christian life,CCC 1324, and here stands its
(07:42):
very first human witness.
Saint John drank deeply fromthis fountain, attuned to every
word spoken by the Savior, as heoffered his body and blood for
the life of the world.
The saints have often commentedon this privileged moment.
Saint Peter Julian Amard,apostle of the Eucharist,
reflected that John rested hishead on the heart of Jesus to
(08:04):
gather its secrets.
In this sacred exchange, Johnreceived a revelation available
to every believer, the burning,inexhaustible charity that flows
from Christ's heart in theEucharist, accessible at every
mass and every moment ofadoration.
Here at the Genesis of the NewCovenant, the church receives
(08:24):
her first lessons on love,reverence, and holy intimacy
with God.
John's example is an invitation.
To become a true follower of theLord is to rest spiritually upon
his heart, seeking wisdom,consolation, and the divine fire
of charity for our ownconversion and the salvation of
(08:45):
all souls.
As the beloved disciple leanedupon Christ in trust and
humility, so too must we, forour goal is heaven, and the
heart of Jesus is our surestrefuge, witness to the pierced
heart on Calvary.
Saint John the Evangelist standsas a silent sentinel at the foot
(09:05):
of the cross, a luminous witnessblazing in the darkest hour.
When others fled in fear, Johnremained, drawing courage from
the love he had encountered inthe heart of Christ.
Now there stood by the cross ofJesus his mother and his
mother's sister Mary of Cleophusand Mary Magdalene, when Jesus
therefore saw his mother and thedisciple standing by whom he
(09:27):
loved.
The Church, guided by theinfallible magisterium, teaches
us to meditate on thisunfathomable moment.
The beloved disciple,representing all of us,
receiving from Christ's dyinglips the most precious gifts,
his mother and his heart.
(09:49):
John alone records the soldier'sspear, the lance piercing the
sacred heart of Jesus, John1934.
From that wound immediatelythere came out blood and water.
For centuries holy men and womenhave knelt in adoration before
this scene, recognizing in itthe wellspring of all
sacraments, especially the HolyEucharist and baptism.
unknown (10:10):
St.
SPEAKER_00 (10:11):
John Chrysostom proclaims, not without purpose
or by chance did these fountainsspring forth from his side, but
that we might be cleansed andnourished for eternal life.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch declares the Church was
born from the pure side ofChrist.
For this reason the blood andwater are symbols of the
(10:32):
Church's sacraments flowing fromthe sacred heart.
CCC seven sixty six.
Saint John's steadfast presencemeans more than witness.
It is participation.
He looks and believes.
He becomes a vessel to proclaimthat the way to heaven is wide
open through the love of thesacred heart.
(10:54):
In moments of suffering, whenthe path seems lonely and the
world grows cold, Saint Johninvites us to Calvary to behold
your mother, and to beholdthrough the blood and water the
inexhaustible mercy of Christ.
He is the patron of all who havestood by the cross, priests,
teachers, catechists, and everysoul seeking holiness.
(11:16):
He calls us to trust, to enterinto the side of Christ like
Saint Thomas did, to findhealing, and to become true
children of the heart that waspierced for love of us.
God is love, he assures us,first John 4 8, and nowhere is
love more manifest than in theheart opened at Calvary.
Water and blood Eucharisticsymbols in John 1934.
(11:40):
Sacred Scripture revealsprofound mysteries in the most
humble of moments.
In John 1934, but one of thesoldiers pierced his side with a
spear, and at once there cameout blood and water.
The beloved disciple outlines ascene of unfathomable
theological significance.
Saint John the Evangelist, theone who rested his head upon the
(12:05):
chest of Jesus at the LastSupper, uniquely records this
piercing of Christ's side,giving us not only eyewitness
testimony, but a preview of theChurch's most treasured
realities, the sacraments of theEucharist and baptism.
For Catholics steeped in thetreasury of the Church, these
details are not incidental, theyare providential signs that call
(12:28):
our hearts to deeper reverenceand awe.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch affirms this teaching.
The Church has always seen inJohn's blood and water not only
a symbol of baptism and theEucharist, but also the
beginning of the Church herself.
(12:49):
CCC 1225.
The saints, too, from SaintThomas Aquinas to Saint John
Chrysot uh Saint John Chrysostommeditate on this outpouring.
Jesus, even in death, poursforth the divine streams that
enliven the church and givebirth to our souls in grace.
(13:11):
Consider this precious flow fromthe sacred heart fulfills the
prophecy of Zechariah.
They shall look on him whom theyhave pierced, Zechariah 12 10,
and places before our eyes avisible reminder that Christ's
love is not held back, butspends itself completely for the
salvation of souls.
Saint John's testimony is aninvitation to trust.
(13:33):
In the Eucharistic feast wetruly receive the blood that
flowed from Calvary, and inbaptism we are bathed in the
cleansing water that springsfrom his heart.
How can we not feel the call toconversion and consolation in
this moment?
We are summoned to the foot ofthe cross, joining saints and
mystics, Saint Faustina, SaintMargaret Mary Alakok, who drew
(13:57):
untold strength fromcontemplating the wounds of
Christ and his sacred heart, inthe steady gaze of the church,
the blood and water are livingsigns, the font in which we are
made new, and the cup thatfortifies us for our journey
home to heaven.
The Gospel of Love unpackingJohannine theologies Saint John
(14:18):
the Evangelist, the disciplewhom Jesus loved, John 13 23,
stands as a living testament tothe power of divine intimacy.
Through his gospel he revealsnot only the sacred humanity of
Christ, but the unfathomabledepths of his most sacred heart.
John's theology begins and endswith love.
(14:39):
Every page pulses with aninvitation to enter into the
fullness of God's charity.
As we open the gospel accordingto Saint John, we are drawn
immediately into the mystery ofthe incarnation.
In the beginning was the word,and the word was with God, and
the word was God, and the wordbecame flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1 1 14.
(15:01):
Here Holy Mother Church setsbefore us the foundation of our
faith, as proclaimed sobeautifully in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, sectionfour hundred and sixty.
For the Son of God became man sothat we might become God.
The incarnation, as Johnpresents it, is not a distant
(15:23):
theological truth, but a livedencounter with Jesus who draws
us through love into God's ownfamily.
Time and again Saint John'sgospel reveals the radical
nature of Christ's love.
Nowhere is this more evidentthan in John thirteen thirty
four.
A new commandment I give to youthat you love one another even
(15:44):
as I have loved you, that youalso love one another.
This is no mere sentiment, it isa call to holiness.
Jesus offers his very heart asthe pattern and source of this
love, a heart pierced for oursins, a heart ardently longing
to gather every soul.
Saints and mystics throughoutthe ages, like Saint Gertrude
(16:04):
the Great and Saint MargaretMary Alacoke, to whom Jesus
revealed his sacred heart, haveechoed John's teaching.
To know Christ is to rest uponhis heart, as John did at the
Last Supper, see if Johnthirteen twenty five.
The catechism reminds us,Section four hundred and seventy
eight, Jesus knew and loved useach and all during his life,
(16:27):
his agony and his passion, andgave himself up for each one of
us.
John alone stood at the foot ofthe cross with the Blessed
Mother, drinking from thechalice of suffering and love,
each miracle in John's gospel,especially the glorious moment
when water became wine at Cana,John II, and supremely when
blood and water flowed fromChrist's side, John 1934,
(16:51):
unveils the abundance of mercyflowing from the heart of Jesus.
In these signs we recognize ourEucharistic Lord inviting us to
trust boldly in hissuperabundant love and to let
ourselves be transformed.
To journey with Saint John is tocontemplate utterly self-giving
love.
His gospel beckons us toconversion, to surrender, to
(17:12):
trust, to the pursuit ofholiness that leads unfailingly
to heaven.
For John shows us that God islove, and he who abides in love
abides in God, and God abides inhim.
Echoes of the sacred heart inthe first epistle of John.
(17:33):
As we journey deeper into thelife and witness of Saint John
the Evangelist, we find theradiant warmth of the sacred
heart of Jesus reflected mosttenderly in his first epistle.
Saint John, once a humblefisherman, now theologian and
beloved disciple, writes with anardor that can only come from
resting upon the very heart ofChrist.
(17:54):
See after John 13 23.
His words resonate through theages as both testimony and
urgent invitation.
Beloved, let us love one anotherbecause love is of God.
Everyone who loves is begottenby God and knows God.
Here John echoes the veryheartbeat of the gospel, love
(18:16):
that is not sentimental butsacrificial, incarnate, and
divine.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch, CCC two hundred
twenty-one, teaches God's verybeing is love.
Saint John's pen, guided by theHoly Spirit, urges us to
encounter this love not aspassive spectators, but as
(18:38):
active participants called toradiate divine charity in a
world aching for hope.
This radical love is rooted inthe heart pierced on Calvary, a
heart John witnessed broken forour salvation, John 19, 34 to
35.
It is no wonder the churchinvokes John as a model disciple
for intimacy with Christ'ssacred heart.
(19:00):
The same fire of love thatanimated his gospel burns within
his epistle, driving us to aconversion that affects every
facet of our lives.
Saint John does not shy fromchallenge.
If anyone says I love God buthates his brother, he is a liar.
This is a summons to holiness, acall to mirror the mercy we
(19:24):
receive from the heart of Jesus.
The saints from Augustine toMargaret Mary Alak recognize
that whatever grace and mercyflowed through the church must
first be poured out into ourhearts.
CCC 2842.
John's message is profoundlyEucharistic.
Just as we receive Christ'sheart in holy communion, we are
(19:48):
to become living vessels of hislove and forgiveness.
O dear reader, let us tremblewith awe at these demands, but
be comforted in John's assurancewe love because he first loved
us.
In contemplating Saint John'stestimony, we hear the sacred
heart's invitation to abide inthe love that is stronger than
(20:09):
death and to invite others.
To taste and see the goodness ofthe Lord.
Psalm 34, verse 8.
May our lives echo with theardent charity that marked the
fisherman turned uh theologianwho spent his years urging all
souls to walk just as he walked,first John 2 6, on the narrow
(20:30):
way to heaven.
Patmos and the revelation ofdivine mercy.
It was on the craggy,sun-bleached island of Patmos
that Saint John the Evangelistreceived the visions that would
become the book of Revelation, atext saturated not merely with
prophecies, but with the beatingheart of Christ's divine mercy.
(20:52):
Exiled for his testimony toJesus Christ, John was not
defeated or silenced.
Instead he was privileged tohear behind him a loud voice
like a trumpet, Revelation 110,an unmistakable summons echoing
across the centuries.
The Lord himself met his beloveddisciple in solitude,
(21:13):
illuminating for him and for usthe dazzling hope promised to
all who remain faithful.
Here the sacred heart of Jesusis revealed not only as a symbol
of burning love, but as a fountof inexhaustible mercy toward
his people.
In the catechism we are toldthat the gospel is the
(21:33):
revelation in Jesus Christ ofGod's mercy to sinners.
CCC one thousand eight hundredforty six.
Saint John's apocalyptic visionsdo not merely thunder warnings
to a fallen world, they ring outwith the urgent invitation to
conversion and trust, beckoningus to run to the open arms of
(21:55):
the lamb who was slain.
It is impossible not to bestruck by the Lord's repeated
assurances to the one whoconquers, I will give some of
the hidden manna and a whitestone with a new name written on
the stone which no one knowsexcept him who receives it.
Revelation two seventeen Here istenderness for each soul a
(22:18):
promise of intimacy andtransformation offered by the
one whose mercies are new everymorning.
Lamentations three hundredtwenty three.
John the apostle who rested onChrist's heart at the Last
Supper now teaches from exilethat every trial, every great
tribulation can lead to unionwith the heart of Jesus, who
(22:39):
wipes away every tear,Revelation twenty one four.
Throughout the ages the churchhas meditated on Patmos as both
a place of suffering and asanctuary of vision.
Miracles, conversions, andsilent acts of martyrdom are all
united in the same hope.
Saint John proclaims that she kichi de aid kit.
(23:05):
This e got got God's mercy isthe final word, outlasting every
darkness.
Saints like Faustina Kowalska,who spread devotion to divine
mercy, stand on the shoulders ofthe beloved disciple, reminding
us that Christ's heart, piercedyet triumphant, remains open for
all who thirst.
Now just as then we are calledto listen and to respond.
(23:27):
Let anyone who hears say, Come,Revelation 22, 17.
In exile, in isolation or inpilgrimage, Patmos is where the
divine mercy breaks through,revealing the ultimate goal of
every heart, communion withJesus, our Savior and our
friend, for whom heaven isprepared.
(23:47):
Saint John the Evangelistcollection tradition and
testimony, Saint John and theearly church fathers in the
golden dawn of the church whenwhen saints walked the earth and
martyrdom was the price offaith, the figure of Saint John
the Evangelist stood as ablazing torch for all disciples.
(24:10):
The early church fathers, thosepillars of doctrine and
witnesses to the apostolic age,look to the beloved disciple not
only as an eyewitness of Christ,but as the one who leaned upon
the sacred heart at the LastSupper, John 13, 23.
Saint John in the writings glowsas both mystic and theologian, a
(24:32):
living bridge between theincarnate word and the apostolic
tradition handed down to thechurch.
Saint Irenaeus, disciple ofPolycarp, who himself was taught
by John, attesting againstheresies that what John heard
from Jesus' own lips blossominto the gospel that conquers
error with truth.
(24:53):
He revered John as as a priestlywitness of Christ's heart,
echoing the catechism's teachingthat in John the Church finds
the disciple who truly knewChrist and could testify to his
divinity and humanity.
KFBCCC four six four-four sixfive.
(25:14):
Origen, that tireless seeker ofspiritual wisdom, wrote that
none else revealed the mysteriesof Christ's divinity as John who
soared like an eagle into theheights of the Godhead.
Tertulian, defender of the faithin North Africa, testified that
Saint John's proximity to Jesusgave him authority to speak not
(25:35):
just as a chronicler, but as aguardian of Christian doctrine
and unity.
For Tertulian, the apostle'sliving memory of Christ was a
remedy against heresy and aguarantee of doctrinal purity,
the very heart of the church'sfidelity to the Lord's
teachings.
Through the Fathers, thetestimony of John burns bright,
(25:58):
a divinely trusted confidantoverflowing with the love that
poured forth from the heartpierced on Calvary, John
nineteen thirty five, saintssuch as Augustine marvel that
while the synoptic showed us theLord's actions, John unveils the
depths of his sacred heart, thehidden places of divinity, as
(26:19):
the doctor of grace proclaims,tractates on the Gospel of John.
In the communion of saints,these voices beckon every
generation to return to theGospel of John, to drink anew
from the well spring of truthand tenderness that radiated
from his witness, his livingmemory preserved in countless
miracles, and conversion standsas a call to holiness and to
(26:42):
that ultimate pilgrimage, unionwith Jesus in the glory of
heaven.
Icons and art depicting John inthe heart of Jesus in the
radiant tapestry of Catholictradition, sacred icons and
religious art have long woventhe story of Saint John the
Evangelist into the very heartof the church's visual memory.
(27:05):
From the earliest days, inspiredartists have reached for brush
and chisel to render the deepmysteries that Saint John so
powerfully witnessed, especiallythe love of the sacred heart
revealed at the Last Supper andon Calvary.
Scripture draws us to thatmystical moment in the upper
room where the disciple whomJesus loved reclined upon the
bosom of the Savior, John 13,23.
(27:28):
Tradition has cherished thisimage, and so have generations
of artists who sided who depictSaint John resting with serene
trust, eyes lifted to Christ,the arm of friendship draped
across the Lord's shoulder.
His posture, gentle yet bold,invites us into the intimate
union with Jesus to which we areall called.
(27:50):
In the rich treasury of sacredart, Saint John often stands at
the foot of the cross, a silentsentinel of steadfast devotion,
his gaze fixed on the piercedside of Jesus.
The catechism echoes thismoment.
The church was born from thepierced heart of Christ hanging
dead on the cross, CCC 766.
Iconographers following thisrevelation frequently portray
(28:12):
John transfixed by the wound inChrist's side, streams of blood
and water flowing forth, signsof the sacraments, the
outpouring of divine love,eastern icons and western
masterpieces alike frequentlypresent Saint John with a book
or a quill pointing to theinspired gospel that unveils the
unfathomable depths of Christ'sheart.
(28:35):
God is love, and he who abidesin love abides in God.
These holy images are not mereornament.
The saints teach us that arttransmits grace.
(28:58):
Saint John Damasine defends theveneration of icons, urging that
through them we move the heartto divine longing.
For centuries the faithful havefound in the images of John at
Christ's side an invitation todeeper adoration of the sacred
heart, a call to trust, tosurrender, to holy intimacy.
In gazing upon such art, ourhearts are drawn upward, echoing
(29:21):
the mystic love between thebeloved disciple and the heart
of Jesus, the source and summitof all Christian life.
Lessons for modern discipleshipfrom the beloved apostle and
Saint John the Evangelist, thebeloved disciple, John 13, 23,
offers a radiant model for everyCatholic striving to follow
(29:43):
Christ in the modern world.
More than an eyewitness ofChrist's glory and agony, Saint
John stands as a spiritualbridge, inviting us into deeper
intimacy with the sacred heartof Jesus.
Reflect first on John's profoundreceptivity.
At the Last Supper he rests hishead upon the Savior's breast,
(30:04):
John 13, 25, symbolizing thedisciples' calling to meditate
upon the very heartbeat of God.
This vision is echoed in thecatechism to receive in faith
the gift of his Eucharist is toreceive the Lord Himself, CCC
1324.
John teaches us that truediscipleship begins in loving
(30:27):
contemplation, not mereactivity, and urges us to be
docile to the inspirations ofthe Holy Spirit.
Secondly, John models unwaveringfidelity amid suffering.
While all but one of theapostles fled in fear, John
remained at Calvary steadfastbeside the Blessed Mother, John
(30:48):
nineteen twenty six to twentyseven.
In today's world, saturated withdistraction and compromise, his
example invites us to stand firmwith Christ, even when it means
enduring misunderstanding orpersecution.
The saints remind us he whoperseveres to the end will be
(31:10):
saved, Matthew 24 13.
John's humility is yet anotherlesson, poignantly seen when he
simply calls himself thedisciple whom Jesus loved.
He disappears behind Christ, hisconfidence anchored not in his
achievements, but in God'smercy.
Modern disciples must learn toembrace their identity as
(31:31):
beloved sons and daughters ofthe Father, animated by holy
communion and open to radical,joyful conversion.
Finally, John reveals themissionary nature of devotion.
Having received Jesus' love sointimately, he becomes a herald
of truth and life.
That which we have seen andheard we proclaim also to you,
(31:53):
so that you may have fellowshipwith us.
Vermo Authentic discipleshipcannot remain silent.
Like Saint John, we are calledto announce the wonders of the
sacred heart, trusting theSpirit to bear fruits of
holiness in those who hear.
May we, drawn by Saint John'switness, dare to live as true
(32:15):
disciples, adorers of theEucharistic Lord, loyal to Mary,
and eager to proclaim all thatChrist has revealed.
Our goal is heaven, and ourjourney is one of the heart.
Conclusion The beloved discipleleads us home.
Saint John the Evangelist standsas a radiant example of what it
means to be called, converted,and transformed by the sacred
(32:38):
heart of Jesus.
From the shores of Galilee tothe foot of the cross, John's
journey is our journey, atestament that the Lord takes
ordinary hearts and makes themextraordinary through love and
mercy.
As Saint John rested his headupon the chest of Christ at the
Last Supper, he invites us todraw near to the sacred heart,
to listen to its rhythmicoutpouring of grace and to be
(32:59):
changed forever.
In the embrace of Holy MotherChurch, as taught by the
magisterium and witnessed in thelives of the saints, we discover
through John the face of divinemercy and the hope of eternal
life.
By following his path of trust,reverence for the Eucharist and
filial devotion to Mary, weencounter our truest destiny,
(33:20):
union with the living God.
At Journeys of Faith, our mercyour mission echoes Saint John's
gospel call to know the heart ofJesus, to love him and to make
him loved.
Let us journey together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit with
one vision, confident that withSt.
John's intercession, ourpilgrimage will lead us home to
(33:40):
heaven.
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Super Saints Podcast at BrotherJoseph Ryaldenhoven here at your
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Be sure to look at thedescription for special
information of interest to youand from fisherman to theologian
Saint John the Evangelist.
In the living memory of thechurch woven into the tapestry
(00:31):
of sacred tradition andscripture, we discover figures
who speak intimately to oursearch for Christ's heart.
Among these Saint John theEvangelist stands out, not
merely as a humble Galileanfisherman, but as a beloved
disciple whose witness peelsback the veil, revealing the
sacred heart of Jesus in all itsdivine vulnerability and
(00:56):
life-giving power.
At Journeys of Faith werecognize in Saint John a model
of that total discipleship towhich every Catholic is called,
from the first hesitant call onthe Sea of Galilee to standing
steadfast beneath the cross,John's life invites us to move
(01:17):
from knowledge about Jesus tounion with his heart.
Saint John's gospel and epistlesresound with the echoes of
heavenly mysteries, histestimony entrusted to the
church to ignite ardor in thehearts of the faithful.
How remarkable it is as thecatechism teaches that God
(01:37):
reveals himself most perfectlythrough his son, CCC sixty five
two thousand seven hundredseventeen, yet chooses humble
witnesses to communicate thislove to the world.
Time and again, throughEucharistic miracles, Marian
apparitions, and the heritage ofthe saints, we see this love
(01:59):
continue to touch generations.
For those on pilgrimage, bothphysical and spiritual, Saint
John anchors us to the heartthat beats at the center of
salvation history, and join usarmchair pilgrims and seekers of
holiness as we journey withSaint John.
Let us rediscover how theevangelist points always and
everywhere to the sacred heartof Jesus, a heart still offered
(02:22):
for the world, so together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit with
one vision, we may answer thecall to deep conversion and
everlasting communion with theGod who loves us.
Heaven, our true goal, beckons.
Called from the nets, John'sfirst encounter with Christ.
Picture the Sea of Galilee atdawn, its silver surface
(02:44):
reflecting a sky on the edge ofrevelation.
Saint John the Evangelist, theyoungest son of Zebede, is
there, shoulders weary, handscallous by the day's labor, yet
heart restless for somethingmore.
It is here amid the sturdycertainties of nets and boats
that Jesus passes by and uttersa command that echoes through
(03:05):
centuries, follow me and I willmake you fishers of men.
Matthew 4 19.
The gospel show us a moment, aholy invitation when John with
his brother James leaves behindnot only his nets but also the
old rhythms of life, entrustingeverything to the unknown yet
all knowing Christ.
(03:25):
At once they left their nets andfollowed him, Mark 118.
It is a total surrender, thekind of response that the
catechism, CCC five hundred andforty-six, describes as the
essence of discipleship, towelcome the word with a heart
ready to be transformed.
John's first encounter is morethan a physical meeting, it is a
lightning strike of grace.
(03:46):
Like Abraham stepping into theunknown or Peter casting his net
on the master's word, Johnreveals the posture of every
true disciple, docility,obedience, and generous courage.
Saint Bede writes, they lefttheir nets, that is the old life
and all that was theirs, andfollowed him with undivided
(04:07):
hearts.
Saint John's prompt yes is atestimony to the power of
Christ's call and thewillingness it summons in those
who are attentive.
This first step, simple yetradical, makes John a model for
all who desire holiness.
What began on the shore, humbly,almost quietly, would prepare
him for the intimate mysteries,reclining on Christ's heart at
(04:27):
the Last Supper, standing at thefoot of the cross and witnessing
the resurrection.
Let anyone who feels unworthy ortoo ordinary gaze at the rough
nets left behind and be remindedChrist calls, not the already
perfect, but the receptive.
Those who listen and leave allfor love are promised to share
(04:50):
in miracles yet unseen.
Do not be afraid.
Henceforth you will be catchingmen.
Luke 5 10.
And so John's journey of faithbegins, just as ours can.
Whenever we dare to leave thesafe shoreline and trust the
Master's voice, take the nextstep on your journey of faith.
(05:12):
Saint John the Evangelist callsus to deeper intimacy with the
sacred heart of Jesus, a lovethat transforms, sanctifies, and
sends us forth.
At Journeys of Faith, ourmission is to help you answer
that call.
If you're longing to draw closerto Jesus through Scripture, the
teachings of the Church, and thewitness of the saints, let us
(05:33):
walk with you every day.
Here's how you can respondtoday.
Explore powerful devotionalresources.
Visit our large online Catholicgift shop to find handpicked
books, prayer cards, rosaries,and art dedicated to Saint John
the Sacred Heart and countlessbeloved saints.
Join our virtual pilgrimages,experience Eucharistic miracles,
(05:56):
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(06:16):
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Evangelize with us.
Share our trusted materials withyour parish or prayer group, or
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Let us journey together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit,
with one vision, until we reachour final home in heaven, visit
(06:36):
journeys of faith, and stepboldly into the next chapter of
your spiritual life.
The beloved disciple at the LastSupper.
The mystery of the sacred heartof Jesus radiates brilliantly in
that upper room where theeternal high priest instituted
the Eucharist.
Among the apostles reclined atthe table, it is Saint John the
(06:57):
Evangelist, the beloveddisciple, who draws closer than
any other.
One of his disciples, whom Jesusloved, was lying close to the
breast of Jesus, John 13, 23,RSVCE.
This intimate gesture handeddown by Sacred Scripture
signifies not only a closenessof friendship, but a profound
(07:20):
receptivity to the beating heartof Christ and by extension to
his divine love.
In that moment, while darknessgathered in Jerusalem, John's
proximity was not accidental.
The catechism attests theEucharist is the source and
summit of the Christian life,CCC 1324, and here stands its
(07:42):
very first human witness.
Saint John drank deeply fromthis fountain, attuned to every
word spoken by the Savior, as heoffered his body and blood for
the life of the world.
The saints have often commentedon this privileged moment.
Saint Peter Julian Amard,apostle of the Eucharist,
reflected that John rested hishead on the heart of Jesus to
(08:04):
gather its secrets.
In this sacred exchange, Johnreceived a revelation available
to every believer, the burning,inexhaustible charity that flows
from Christ's heart in theEucharist, accessible at every
mass and every moment ofadoration.
Here at the Genesis of the NewCovenant, the church receives
(08:24):
her first lessons on love,reverence, and holy intimacy
with God.
John's example is an invitation.
To become a true follower of theLord is to rest spiritually upon
his heart, seeking wisdom,consolation, and the divine fire
of charity for our ownconversion and the salvation of
(08:45):
all souls.
As the beloved disciple leanedupon Christ in trust and
humility, so too must we, forour goal is heaven, and the
heart of Jesus is our surestrefuge, witness to the pierced
heart on Calvary.
Saint John the Evangelist standsas a silent sentinel at the foot
(09:05):
of the cross, a luminous witnessblazing in the darkest hour.
When others fled in fear, Johnremained, drawing courage from
the love he had encountered inthe heart of Christ.
Now there stood by the cross ofJesus his mother and his
mother's sister Mary of Cleophusand Mary Magdalene, when Jesus
therefore saw his mother and thedisciple standing by whom he
(09:27):
loved.
The Church, guided by theinfallible magisterium, teaches
us to meditate on thisunfathomable moment.
The beloved disciple,representing all of us,
receiving from Christ's dyinglips the most precious gifts,
his mother and his heart.
(09:49):
John alone records the soldier'sspear, the lance piercing the
sacred heart of Jesus, John1934.
From that wound immediatelythere came out blood and water.
For centuries holy men and womenhave knelt in adoration before
this scene, recognizing in itthe wellspring of all
sacraments, especially the HolyEucharist and baptism.
unknown (10:10):
St.
SPEAKER_00 (10:11):
John Chrysostom proclaims, not without purpose
or by chance did these fountainsspring forth from his side, but
that we might be cleansed andnourished for eternal life.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch declares the Church was
born from the pure side ofChrist.
For this reason the blood andwater are symbols of the
(10:32):
Church's sacraments flowing fromthe sacred heart.
CCC seven sixty six.
Saint John's steadfast presencemeans more than witness.
It is participation.
He looks and believes.
He becomes a vessel to proclaimthat the way to heaven is wide
open through the love of thesacred heart.
(10:54):
In moments of suffering, whenthe path seems lonely and the
world grows cold, Saint Johninvites us to Calvary to behold
your mother, and to beholdthrough the blood and water the
inexhaustible mercy of Christ.
He is the patron of all who havestood by the cross, priests,
teachers, catechists, and everysoul seeking holiness.
(11:16):
He calls us to trust, to enterinto the side of Christ like
Saint Thomas did, to findhealing, and to become true
children of the heart that waspierced for love of us.
God is love, he assures us,first John 4 8, and nowhere is
love more manifest than in theheart opened at Calvary.
Water and blood Eucharisticsymbols in John 1934.
(11:40):
Sacred Scripture revealsprofound mysteries in the most
humble of moments.
In John 1934, but one of thesoldiers pierced his side with a
spear, and at once there cameout blood and water.
The beloved disciple outlines ascene of unfathomable
theological significance.
Saint John the Evangelist, theone who rested his head upon the
(12:05):
chest of Jesus at the LastSupper, uniquely records this
piercing of Christ's side,giving us not only eyewitness
testimony, but a preview of theChurch's most treasured
realities, the sacraments of theEucharist and baptism.
For Catholics steeped in thetreasury of the Church, these
details are not incidental, theyare providential signs that call
(12:28):
our hearts to deeper reverenceand awe.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch affirms this teaching.
The Church has always seen inJohn's blood and water not only
a symbol of baptism and theEucharist, but also the
beginning of the Church herself.
(12:49):
CCC 1225.
The saints, too, from SaintThomas Aquinas to Saint John
Chrysot uh Saint John Chrysostommeditate on this outpouring.
Jesus, even in death, poursforth the divine streams that
enliven the church and givebirth to our souls in grace.
(13:11):
Consider this precious flow fromthe sacred heart fulfills the
prophecy of Zechariah.
They shall look on him whom theyhave pierced, Zechariah 12 10,
and places before our eyes avisible reminder that Christ's
love is not held back, butspends itself completely for the
salvation of souls.
Saint John's testimony is aninvitation to trust.
(13:33):
In the Eucharistic feast wetruly receive the blood that
flowed from Calvary, and inbaptism we are bathed in the
cleansing water that springsfrom his heart.
How can we not feel the call toconversion and consolation in
this moment?
We are summoned to the foot ofthe cross, joining saints and
mystics, Saint Faustina, SaintMargaret Mary Alakok, who drew
(13:57):
untold strength fromcontemplating the wounds of
Christ and his sacred heart, inthe steady gaze of the church,
the blood and water are livingsigns, the font in which we are
made new, and the cup thatfortifies us for our journey
home to heaven.
The Gospel of Love unpackingJohannine theologies Saint John
(14:18):
the Evangelist, the disciplewhom Jesus loved, John 13 23,
stands as a living testament tothe power of divine intimacy.
Through his gospel he revealsnot only the sacred humanity of
Christ, but the unfathomabledepths of his most sacred heart.
John's theology begins and endswith love.
(14:39):
Every page pulses with aninvitation to enter into the
fullness of God's charity.
As we open the gospel accordingto Saint John, we are drawn
immediately into the mystery ofthe incarnation.
In the beginning was the word,and the word was with God, and
the word was God, and the wordbecame flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1 1 14.
(15:01):
Here Holy Mother Church setsbefore us the foundation of our
faith, as proclaimed sobeautifully in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, sectionfour hundred and sixty.
For the Son of God became man sothat we might become God.
The incarnation, as Johnpresents it, is not a distant
(15:23):
theological truth, but a livedencounter with Jesus who draws
us through love into God's ownfamily.
Time and again Saint John'sgospel reveals the radical
nature of Christ's love.
Nowhere is this more evidentthan in John thirteen thirty
four.
A new commandment I give to youthat you love one another even
(15:44):
as I have loved you, that youalso love one another.
This is no mere sentiment, it isa call to holiness.
Jesus offers his very heart asthe pattern and source of this
love, a heart pierced for oursins, a heart ardently longing
to gather every soul.
Saints and mystics throughoutthe ages, like Saint Gertrude
(16:04):
the Great and Saint MargaretMary Alacoke, to whom Jesus
revealed his sacred heart, haveechoed John's teaching.
To know Christ is to rest uponhis heart, as John did at the
Last Supper, see if Johnthirteen twenty five.
The catechism reminds us,Section four hundred and seventy
eight, Jesus knew and loved useach and all during his life,
(16:27):
his agony and his passion, andgave himself up for each one of
us.
John alone stood at the foot ofthe cross with the Blessed
Mother, drinking from thechalice of suffering and love,
each miracle in John's gospel,especially the glorious moment
when water became wine at Cana,John II, and supremely when
blood and water flowed fromChrist's side, John 1934,
(16:51):
unveils the abundance of mercyflowing from the heart of Jesus.
In these signs we recognize ourEucharistic Lord inviting us to
trust boldly in hissuperabundant love and to let
ourselves be transformed.
To journey with Saint John is tocontemplate utterly self-giving
love.
His gospel beckons us toconversion, to surrender, to
(17:12):
trust, to the pursuit ofholiness that leads unfailingly
to heaven.
For John shows us that God islove, and he who abides in love
abides in God, and God abides inhim.
Echoes of the sacred heart inthe first epistle of John.
(17:33):
As we journey deeper into thelife and witness of Saint John
the Evangelist, we find theradiant warmth of the sacred
heart of Jesus reflected mosttenderly in his first epistle.
Saint John, once a humblefisherman, now theologian and
beloved disciple, writes with anardor that can only come from
resting upon the very heart ofChrist.
(17:54):
See after John 13 23.
His words resonate through theages as both testimony and
urgent invitation.
Beloved, let us love one anotherbecause love is of God.
Everyone who loves is begottenby God and knows God.
Here John echoes the veryheartbeat of the gospel, love
(18:16):
that is not sentimental butsacrificial, incarnate, and
divine.
The catechism of the CatholicChurch, CCC two hundred
twenty-one, teaches God's verybeing is love.
Saint John's pen, guided by theHoly Spirit, urges us to
encounter this love not aspassive spectators, but as
(18:38):
active participants called toradiate divine charity in a
world aching for hope.
This radical love is rooted inthe heart pierced on Calvary, a
heart John witnessed broken forour salvation, John 19, 34 to
35.
It is no wonder the churchinvokes John as a model disciple
for intimacy with Christ'ssacred heart.
(19:00):
The same fire of love thatanimated his gospel burns within
his epistle, driving us to aconversion that affects every
facet of our lives.
Saint John does not shy fromchallenge.
If anyone says I love God buthates his brother, he is a liar.
This is a summons to holiness, acall to mirror the mercy we
(19:24):
receive from the heart of Jesus.
The saints from Augustine toMargaret Mary Alak recognize
that whatever grace and mercyflowed through the church must
first be poured out into ourhearts.
CCC 2842.
John's message is profoundlyEucharistic.
Just as we receive Christ'sheart in holy communion, we are
(19:48):
to become living vessels of hislove and forgiveness.
O dear reader, let us tremblewith awe at these demands, but
be comforted in John's assurancewe love because he first loved
us.
In contemplating Saint John'stestimony, we hear the sacred
heart's invitation to abide inthe love that is stronger than
(20:09):
death and to invite others.
To taste and see the goodness ofthe Lord.
Psalm 34, verse 8.
May our lives echo with theardent charity that marked the
fisherman turned uh theologianwho spent his years urging all
souls to walk just as he walked,first John 2 6, on the narrow
(20:30):
way to heaven.
Patmos and the revelation ofdivine mercy.
It was on the craggy,sun-bleached island of Patmos
that Saint John the Evangelistreceived the visions that would
become the book of Revelation, atext saturated not merely with
prophecies, but with the beatingheart of Christ's divine mercy.
(20:52):
Exiled for his testimony toJesus Christ, John was not
defeated or silenced.
Instead he was privileged tohear behind him a loud voice
like a trumpet, Revelation 110,an unmistakable summons echoing
across the centuries.
The Lord himself met his beloveddisciple in solitude,
(21:13):
illuminating for him and for usthe dazzling hope promised to
all who remain faithful.
Here the sacred heart of Jesusis revealed not only as a symbol
of burning love, but as a fountof inexhaustible mercy toward
his people.
In the catechism we are toldthat the gospel is the
(21:33):
revelation in Jesus Christ ofGod's mercy to sinners.
CCC one thousand eight hundredforty six.
Saint John's apocalyptic visionsdo not merely thunder warnings
to a fallen world, they ring outwith the urgent invitation to
conversion and trust, beckoningus to run to the open arms of
(21:55):
the lamb who was slain.
It is impossible not to bestruck by the Lord's repeated
assurances to the one whoconquers, I will give some of
the hidden manna and a whitestone with a new name written on
the stone which no one knowsexcept him who receives it.
Revelation two seventeen Here istenderness for each soul a
(22:18):
promise of intimacy andtransformation offered by the
one whose mercies are new everymorning.
Lamentations three hundredtwenty three.
John the apostle who rested onChrist's heart at the Last
Supper now teaches from exilethat every trial, every great
tribulation can lead to unionwith the heart of Jesus, who
(22:39):
wipes away every tear,Revelation twenty one four.
Throughout the ages the churchhas meditated on Patmos as both
a place of suffering and asanctuary of vision.
Miracles, conversions, andsilent acts of martyrdom are all
united in the same hope.
Saint John proclaims that she kichi de aid kit.
(23:05):
This e got got God's mercy isthe final word, outlasting every
darkness.
Saints like Faustina Kowalska,who spread devotion to divine
mercy, stand on the shoulders ofthe beloved disciple, reminding
us that Christ's heart, piercedyet triumphant, remains open for
all who thirst.
Now just as then we are calledto listen and to respond.
(23:27):
Let anyone who hears say, Come,Revelation 22, 17.
In exile, in isolation or inpilgrimage, Patmos is where the
divine mercy breaks through,revealing the ultimate goal of
every heart, communion withJesus, our Savior and our
friend, for whom heaven isprepared.
(23:47):
Saint John the Evangelistcollection tradition and
testimony, Saint John and theearly church fathers in the
golden dawn of the church whenwhen saints walked the earth and
martyrdom was the price offaith, the figure of Saint John
the Evangelist stood as ablazing torch for all disciples.
(24:10):
The early church fathers, thosepillars of doctrine and
witnesses to the apostolic age,look to the beloved disciple not
only as an eyewitness of Christ,but as the one who leaned upon
the sacred heart at the LastSupper, John 13, 23.
Saint John in the writings glowsas both mystic and theologian, a
(24:32):
living bridge between theincarnate word and the apostolic
tradition handed down to thechurch.
Saint Irenaeus, disciple ofPolycarp, who himself was taught
by John, attesting againstheresies that what John heard
from Jesus' own lips blossominto the gospel that conquers
error with truth.
(24:53):
He revered John as as a priestlywitness of Christ's heart,
echoing the catechism's teachingthat in John the Church finds
the disciple who truly knewChrist and could testify to his
divinity and humanity.
KFBCCC four six four-four sixfive.
(25:14):
Origen, that tireless seeker ofspiritual wisdom, wrote that
none else revealed the mysteriesof Christ's divinity as John who
soared like an eagle into theheights of the Godhead.
Tertulian, defender of the faithin North Africa, testified that
Saint John's proximity to Jesusgave him authority to speak not
(25:35):
just as a chronicler, but as aguardian of Christian doctrine
and unity.
For Tertulian, the apostle'sliving memory of Christ was a
remedy against heresy and aguarantee of doctrinal purity,
the very heart of the church'sfidelity to the Lord's
teachings.
Through the Fathers, thetestimony of John burns bright,
(25:58):
a divinely trusted confidantoverflowing with the love that
poured forth from the heartpierced on Calvary, John
nineteen thirty five, saintssuch as Augustine marvel that
while the synoptic showed us theLord's actions, John unveils the
depths of his sacred heart, thehidden places of divinity, as
(26:19):
the doctor of grace proclaims,tractates on the Gospel of John.
In the communion of saints,these voices beckon every
generation to return to theGospel of John, to drink anew
from the well spring of truthand tenderness that radiated
from his witness, his livingmemory preserved in countless
miracles, and conversion standsas a call to holiness and to
(26:42):
that ultimate pilgrimage, unionwith Jesus in the glory of
heaven.
Icons and art depicting John inthe heart of Jesus in the
radiant tapestry of Catholictradition, sacred icons and
religious art have long woventhe story of Saint John the
Evangelist into the very heartof the church's visual memory.
(27:05):
From the earliest days, inspiredartists have reached for brush
and chisel to render the deepmysteries that Saint John so
powerfully witnessed, especiallythe love of the sacred heart
revealed at the Last Supper andon Calvary.
Scripture draws us to thatmystical moment in the upper
room where the disciple whomJesus loved reclined upon the
bosom of the Savior, John 13,23.
(27:28):
Tradition has cherished thisimage, and so have generations
of artists who sided who depictSaint John resting with serene
trust, eyes lifted to Christ,the arm of friendship draped
across the Lord's shoulder.
His posture, gentle yet bold,invites us into the intimate
union with Jesus to which we areall called.
(27:50):
In the rich treasury of sacredart, Saint John often stands at
the foot of the cross, a silentsentinel of steadfast devotion,
his gaze fixed on the piercedside of Jesus.
The catechism echoes thismoment.
The church was born from thepierced heart of Christ hanging
dead on the cross, CCC 766.
Iconographers following thisrevelation frequently portray
(28:12):
John transfixed by the wound inChrist's side, streams of blood
and water flowing forth, signsof the sacraments, the
outpouring of divine love,eastern icons and western
masterpieces alike frequentlypresent Saint John with a book
or a quill pointing to theinspired gospel that unveils the
unfathomable depths of Christ'sheart.
(28:35):
God is love, and he who abidesin love abides in God.
These holy images are not mereornament.
The saints teach us that arttransmits grace.
(28:58):
Saint John Damasine defends theveneration of icons, urging that
through them we move the heartto divine longing.
For centuries the faithful havefound in the images of John at
Christ's side an invitation todeeper adoration of the sacred
heart, a call to trust, tosurrender, to holy intimacy.
In gazing upon such art, ourhearts are drawn upward, echoing
(29:21):
the mystic love between thebeloved disciple and the heart
of Jesus, the source and summitof all Christian life.
Lessons for modern discipleshipfrom the beloved apostle and
Saint John the Evangelist, thebeloved disciple, John 13, 23,
offers a radiant model for everyCatholic striving to follow
(29:43):
Christ in the modern world.
More than an eyewitness ofChrist's glory and agony, Saint
John stands as a spiritualbridge, inviting us into deeper
intimacy with the sacred heartof Jesus.
Reflect first on John's profoundreceptivity.
At the Last Supper he rests hishead upon the Savior's breast,
(30:04):
John 13, 25, symbolizing thedisciples' calling to meditate
upon the very heartbeat of God.
This vision is echoed in thecatechism to receive in faith
the gift of his Eucharist is toreceive the Lord Himself, CCC
1324.
John teaches us that truediscipleship begins in loving
(30:27):
contemplation, not mereactivity, and urges us to be
docile to the inspirations ofthe Holy Spirit.
Secondly, John models unwaveringfidelity amid suffering.
While all but one of theapostles fled in fear, John
remained at Calvary steadfastbeside the Blessed Mother, John
(30:48):
nineteen twenty six to twentyseven.
In today's world, saturated withdistraction and compromise, his
example invites us to stand firmwith Christ, even when it means
enduring misunderstanding orpersecution.
The saints remind us he whoperseveres to the end will be
(31:10):
saved, Matthew 24 13.
John's humility is yet anotherlesson, poignantly seen when he
simply calls himself thedisciple whom Jesus loved.
He disappears behind Christ, hisconfidence anchored not in his
achievements, but in God'smercy.
Modern disciples must learn toembrace their identity as
(31:31):
beloved sons and daughters ofthe Father, animated by holy
communion and open to radical,joyful conversion.
Finally, John reveals themissionary nature of devotion.
Having received Jesus' love sointimately, he becomes a herald
of truth and life.
That which we have seen andheard we proclaim also to you,
(31:53):
so that you may have fellowshipwith us.
Vermo Authentic discipleshipcannot remain silent.
Like Saint John, we are calledto announce the wonders of the
sacred heart, trusting theSpirit to bear fruits of
holiness in those who hear.
May we, drawn by Saint John'switness, dare to live as true
(32:15):
disciples, adorers of theEucharistic Lord, loyal to Mary,
and eager to proclaim all thatChrist has revealed.
Our goal is heaven, and ourjourney is one of the heart.
Conclusion The beloved discipleleads us home.
Saint John the Evangelist standsas a radiant example of what it
means to be called, converted,and transformed by the sacred
(32:38):
heart of Jesus.
From the shores of Galilee tothe foot of the cross, John's
journey is our journey, atestament that the Lord takes
ordinary hearts and makes themextraordinary through love and
mercy.
As Saint John rested his headupon the chest of Christ at the
Last Supper, he invites us todraw near to the sacred heart,
to listen to its rhythmicoutpouring of grace and to be
(32:59):
changed forever.
In the embrace of Holy MotherChurch, as taught by the
magisterium and witnessed in thelives of the saints, we discover
through John the face of divinemercy and the hope of eternal
life.
By following his path of trust,reverence for the Eucharist and
filial devotion to Mary, weencounter our truest destiny,
(33:20):
union with the living God.
At Journeys of Faith, our mercyour mission echoes Saint John's
gospel call to know the heart ofJesus, to love him and to make
him loved.
Let us journey together, oneheart, one mind, one spirit with
one vision, confident that withSt.
John's intercession, ourpilgrimage will lead us home to
(33:40):
heaven.
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