April 27, 2025.
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20, 30-31)
St John finishes his Gospel reminding his readers of the reason he writes: to offer to those who are interested in the new teachings of the importance of example and of the message of Jesus Christ. He also offers the result of applying this message to personal life. For John, it is not just to be in touch with the truth, but to demonstrate that only the truth – which is Christ – frees us and creates in the human being a truly dignified life of that name.
If Christ is the way and is the truth, he is also life. Even more so, He is only life because He is the path and the truth. Or in other words we can only be alive, and have a full life, if we are one with Christ, if we imitate Christ. And the life to which John refers is synonymous with happiness – not with the absence of problems -, synonymous with human fullness and also synonymous with eternity when death reaches us. However, it gives a condition to obtain this life: believe in Christ. The faith and the moral practice that go attached to this faith are indispensable conditions to enjoy the life that Christ grants.
But if all this is valid for each one, today – as in the times of St. John – it is urgent to bear witness to it before man. Everyone aspires to happiness, but they don’t find it because they look for it on the wrong paths. We must demonstrate to them, with our example, that we are happy and that anyone can be so simply by being united to Christ. The pain and the cross become such in testimonial instruments, when we are capable of smiling despite them, thanks to the strength of God.
Intention: Not to complain about problems and to take advantage of them to bear witness that one can be happy although suffering, by being unified to Christ and by the strength that Christ gives.