An apostle who wrote a Gospel

By Tony Staley

	Sites of Compass Tour Pilgrimage to Rome and Paris
	What: Compass tour of Paris/Rome Where: May 3-13, 2008 What: Bishop Robert Banks will lead a tour of holy sites in Paris and Rome Information: Call Amy Kawula, Compass marketing manager, at 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8212 or check out this pilgrimage page

Editor's note: Fourth in a series on the sacred places and tombs of saints included in The Compass pilgrimage to Rome and Paris that retired Green Bay Bishop Robert Banks will lead May 3-13. For more information, contact Amy Kawula, Compass marketing manager 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8212

The first day of the Compass tour in Rome will include a stop at St. John Lateran Basilica, which is dedicated to the Holy Savior, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Previously, we reviewed both the cathedral and John the Baptist. This week is John the Evangelist.

John, traditionally the youngest apostle, is believed to have been born around 6 A.D. in Galilee to Zebedee and Salome. He and his brother, James, were fishing on Lake Gennesaret when Jesus called them (Mt 4:21-22, Mk 1:19-20).

They and Peter were the closest of Jesus' 12 apostles. They were at the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1, Mk 9:2, Lk 9:28), the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31), the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mk 5:22-42, Lk 8:40-56) and Gethsemane (Mt 26:37, Mk 14:33).

	St. John the Evangelist When: First century Where: Palestine, Patmos, Ephesus What: Apostle, evangelist Feast: Dec. 27

John and Peter were leaders in the early church. Paul called them and James the pillars of the church of Jerusalem (Gal 2:9). John and Peter preached daily at the Temple, were imprisoned together before they testified to the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-21) and went to Samaria together to bring the Spirit to new converts (Acts 8:14). John attended the Council of Jerusalem in 49, and then went to Asia Minor.

Tradition says John was arrested in Rome during the reign of Domitian (81-96). After being dipped unharmed into a cauldron of boiling oil, John was exiled to Patmos, where tradition also says he wrote Revelation. After Domitian's death, John is believed to have gone to Ephesus where he wrote his Gospel and three letters, before dying of old age - the only apostle not to be martyred.

Many modern scholars - and some early church fathers - do not believe John wrote Revelation or the second and third letters. They also say that his Gospel had more than one author, but they agree that all the authors belonged to John's community.

John's Gospel is known for high theology and literary and symbolic quality. For example, Jesus' discourse at the Last Supper sounds as though he were already in heaven, and he is portrayed as in total control throughout his Passion. John's Gospel and letters stress love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (3:16).

It is said that when members of his community asked him to preach, John always said, "Brothers and sisters, love one another." When asked why he never came up with a new sermon, he said: "When you have mastered this lesson, we can move on to another."

Concrete examples of the need to translate love into action can be found in three accounts unique to John's Gospel: the changing of water to wine at the Wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-11); the raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44); and the washing of the apostles' feet at the Last Supper (Jn 13:1-16).

(Staley is a retired Compass editor.)