101229 John the Apostle and other feeloughts

Jack and Thom
Good morning, I love you,
101229, 1902

Feeloughts about y’all, your baptisms, the feast of one of your patrons. (for John Kenneth John Nolan.) I’m going to start this blog with Catholic Encyclopedia entry on John the Apostle. It’s cold and I’ve been sitting in the ‘low temp’ for a couple of hours. I have another hour and a half before I must leave. Besides, I can’t wait much past eight thirty to make my decision about going to my Godfather’s wake and funeral. Videbimus. Ora pro eo.


December 27

St John the Apostle
Patron of Asia Minor


New Testament accounts

According to the usual and entirely probable explanation John and James the Greater (the sons of Thunder) became for a time disciples of John the Baptist, and were called by Christ from the circle of John's followers, together with Peter and Andrew, to become His disciples (John 1:35-42).

These ‘first four’ recognized something in John the Baptist and went to him to find the Messiah. They were close, very close. No doubt they did what John the Baptist preached – they repented to make the way of the Lord, the one whose sandal straps John the Baptist could not touch. Even if He were his cousin. … And you? We have many priests and prophets today pointing us to Jesus – in faith and religion Have you chosen a John the Baptist who will guide you to the One True Church? Or are you hanging with another type of person? Choose wisely. Use John the Baptist as your guide in your selection.


After the second return from Judea, John and his companions went back again to their trade of fishing until he and they were called by Christ to definitive discipleship (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20).

Be patient. Choose wisely. Know that Jesus is calling you. Find The Way to Him. Read the calling of the apostles, especially the Apostle whom Jesus loved – because He loves you as much. Understand and imitate what John the Apostle did.



The conclusion is drawn that John was than James. With two brothers, one is the younger. Thom is the younger. Ken is the younger – actually the middle brother of three. We, too, had a James: who died in November 1967 – a cold, blustery time in New York City and in the Berkshires at Shadowbrook. But I digress.


Peter, James, and John were the only witnesses of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and of the Agony in Gethsemani (Matthew 26:37). John was a witness from the beginning. He saw a girl raised from the dead. John saw the Transfiguration. [I’m sure he didn’t think he was on an LSD trip – tho that could explain the book of revelations?] John was called to come closer and pray a little while with Jesus at Gethsemani. And still, John does not record his believing until he stepped into the cave and saw.



Only John and Peter were sent into the city to make the preparation for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8). According to the general interpretation, John was also that "other disciple" who with Peter followed Christ after the arrest into the palace of the high-priest (John 18:15).
When you put the John passages together, it looks like he and Peter were something of a pair. Little brother kind of thing? Apprentice/mentor? When you pair off, and it’s an inevitable thing to do, choose as wisely as John did. Be sure your sidekick is like Peter.


At the Supper itself his place was next to Christ on Whose breast he leaned (John 13:23, 25).
John alone remained near his beloved Master at the foot of the Cross on Calvary with the Mother of Jesus and the pious women, and took the desolate Mother into his care as the last legacy of Christ (John 19:25-27).


I’m too cold and my mind is too much on driving to New York….

I love you
Dad
1926