28 November 2023: Legion Handbook Chapter 24.2

This week’s reading is taken from the Legion Handbook, Chapter 24.2: St. John the Evangelist.

St. John imparts two important devotions that we, as legionaries, may model after: his confidence in the love of Jesus, and his love for Mary.

Throughout the gospel of St. John, St. John repeatedly refers to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. At the last supper, St. John reclined next to Jesus and leaned onto His breast – imagine what Love was being communicated to him in that moment, in the intimate embrace of Jesus. These instances display the childlike confidence and trust that St. John had towards the Lord – the confidence in knowing that Jesus loved him tenderly despite his weaknesses and shortcomings. In this manner, St. John sets an example for us to model after, that we may also have an absolute childlike trust in the Lord’s love for us. In fact, this is rather reminiscent of the Little Way by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, which focuses on having confidence in God’s merciful Love. After all, one is only able to grow in holiness and reach the heights of sanctity when firmly rooted in the love of God.

St. John’s love for Mary also enabled him to remain a faithful follower and apostle of Christ. During Our Lord’s Passion, St. John was only able to remain at the foot of the Cross and follow Jesus because of Mary. Mary kept him faithful to Jesus, when all the other apostles had run away. This illustrates the necessity of devotion to Mary in the life of all Christians. As Jesus had entrusted the entire human race to Mary, and Mary to the human race, we must welcome Mary into our homes and hearts, and truly take Her for our Mother if we wish to remain steadfast to God. We see this in the life of St. John – when he had taken Mary into his home after the death of Our Lord. Mary must have shared about Jesus’ childhood and life with St. John. She must have shared about the many miracles she had witnessed when living with Him. She must have prayed with and for St. John. As a good Mother would take care of a son, Our Lady must have carefully moulded St. John’s soul. She must have inspired an immense love and desire for God in St. John’s soul.

The fruits of St. John’s devotion to Mary and Mary’s care of his soul are most visible in the gospel of St. John. His gospel is renowned for its stark difference from the synoptic gospels, and for its theological richness and depth. How did St. John come to such a deep level of understanding that enabled him to write his gospel in such a manner? The answer is Mary. St. John’s devotion to Mary helped him to attain a closer relationship with Jesus, which consequentially resulted in a greater knowledge of Him, which was thus reflected in his gospel.

St. John shows us that Mary is the way to Jesus – She brings us closer to Jesus and helps us come to know the Love of God. She helps to strengthen our faith and confidence in God’s Love, as seen in the life of St. John.

St. John the Evangelist, pray for us!