C Sector

John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one seated next to him. He enjoyed intimacy with the Lord. He was from Galilee; his father Zebedee was a fisherman and his mother Salome, one of the ladies who were at the service of Jesus. Some believe that she was a sister of Mary the mother of Jesus; if so, John would be a cousin of Jesus. John and his brother, James the Greater, were both fishermen and disciples of John the Baptist who pointed out Jesus to them as "The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." With Andrew, they followed Jesus. A few months later when John and James were helping their father with his fishing nets, Jesus called them, and they left their father with his fishing nets. When they requested for the highest rank in the kingdom, Jesus asked them if they were ready to drink his cup, that is, to suffer martyrdom.

From the example and writings of John and through his intercession, we should seek to acquire a deep and lively knowledge of the mystery of the Word which God revealed to him. The power of love makes this Apostle the theologian of charity. He bears witness to the love of Jesus, "He has always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end." Love was the Lord's style of life which led him to the supreme sacrifice. And love should be the style of life of every Christian.