I spent Christmas Day with my cousin and her in-laws. One of her brothers-in-law and I share a common affinity for the “Star Wars” movies. He has been known to dress in costume as one or the other character from that movie franchise. I haven’t gone that far – yet.
One of the features of the story line is something called “The Force.” A familiar line in the movies is “May the Force be with you.” Throughout the story, “the force” is an abstract concept, the strength of which can be used by those who believe in its power. It can be described as something that we know is out there, somewhere far away which we can sometimes feel. It is not, however, someone – a real, live person.
The first reading for today’s liturgy presents us with the evangelist’s description of who Jesus is and has been in his life. John describes Jesus as someone he has heard, seen, looked upon and touched. Jesus is not an abstract power for John. He is very real.
We can get into long debates about who the evangelist is, what he wrote and where he preached. However, that is not what we are about this morning. We have come together to celebrate the person Jesus who lived among us and whom we believe is our Savior. By celebrating St. John today, we give thanks for the witness he has given us about the man Jesus who we believe is still with us. Jesus is here today among us and is ready to encounter us and enter more deeply into a relationship with us. St. John helps us to place our faith in him through his writing and his witness. That is the focus of our thanksgiving, our Eucharist, today.
As we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist today, we remember that the evangelist wrote so that our joy, the joy we experience in the Incarnation, may be complete.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator