Christmas is not just about receiving love. It is also about reciprocating that love for God. On the feast of St. John the Evangelist, we see another way of loving our Lord.

He was in exile for testifying to Jesus, and his entire life was lived for the love of Jesus and for his community, teaching them about the love of God in Christ and exhorting them to be united in love in Christ.

St. John reminds us that it is through an intimate relationship with our Lord that we are able to withstand hardship and suffering, and thus be able to love as God does.

Reflection question: What is preventing us from experiencing and reciprocating God’s love?