Memorial of Saint John, apostle and evangelist, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" who under the cross took Mary as his mother.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to the people he loves.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 20,2-8

and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,' she said, 'and we don't know where they have put him.' So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John is one of the first four disciples that Jesus called. Tradition has it that John was the disciple that "Jesus loved," the only one who could lean his head on Jesus' chest during the last supper. Together with Peter and James, he accompanied Jesus during his agony in the garden of olives. But like the others, he too fled and left Jesus alone. However, he immediately went back and followed Jesus all the way to the cross. And here he welcomed the invitation to take Mary, Jesus' mother, with him. Today's Gospel shows him in the early hours of the day of Easter, running with Peter toward the tomb. He was younger than Peter and he got there first, saw the bandages on the ground, but did not enter. He waited for Peter, older than him. The Fathers of the Church commented that "love runs faster and gets there first." However, John knew how to wait for his other brother to go together inside the tomb. One does never run alone. The "we," being together, is more valuable than the "I" for Jesus' disciples. During his public life Jesus had already taught it to them when he sent the disciples out "two by two." The two entered the tomb. As soon as he entered, John "saw and believed": he immediately understood that Jesus' body had not been taken away (given the presence of the shroud where they had laid him) and he believed. His witness, which was reported in the fourth Gospel and in the Letters, is focused on the preaching of the love of God and brothers and sisters, understood as the heart of the Teacher's message. Tradition says that, ahead in years, John was brought on a chair into the assembly of the Christians and used to always repeat the commandment of love. When asked why he continued to repeat it he used to answer: "Because it is the Lord's commandment! If one practices it, it is enough."