Exam: Introduction to Johannine Spirituality (part I)

« Exam: Introduction to Johannine Spirituality (part I) 1. A sister who has not taken the course asks you, “So what is Johannine spirituality?” Answer this sister. To follow Christ in the footsteps of saint John One spirituality in three inseparable expressions  Charism  Doctrine  Tradition Original meaning of the term “spirituality” : an authentic Christian life (of the baptized) which admits of growth  In the modern Church: “the concrete application of the Gospel to a human life” (Bouyer)  Spirituality today’s multi-cultural and secular world  Three Levels of Spirituality a.

A personal spirituality (of st John)  Personal but not private appropriation of the faith that has 3 main futures  Experience  Commitment  Way of life b.

The universal spirituality common to all Christians c.

Particular spiritualities within the Church  Three factors converge in the genesis of a distinct spiritual tradition or school:  Incarnation  Exemplarity  Instruction comparisons useful for better understanding of Johannine spirituality a.

Comparing John to other holy founders of spiritual institutes or schools b.

Comparing JSp to those who inspired spiritual traditions but not an institution or ‘school’ as such c.

Comparing John to the other evangelists and NT writers d.

Compare John’s Gospel with other anonymous writings that have been influential for spirituality 2. Explain what Johannine spirituality is (in a more systematic way) in terms of some key principles: Its nature, source, purpose/end, means, and models. 1. The nature of the spiritual life according to John a.

A life in the Spirit (Jn 14,17 « you will be with me ») b.

A participation in Christ’s own filial relationship with the Father (prologue) c.

A life of discipleship/friendship with Xst in Cty 2. The source(s) of spiritual life a.

Ultimate origin: the Blessed Trinity b.

Proximate source: Christ c.

Instrumental cause(s) : st John himself as witness, word of God, sacraments 3. The starting point of spiritual life and growth a.

Personal encounters and basic needs b.

Faith-reception c.

Baptism 4. The end-goal of the Johannine spiritual life a.

Holiness, an immanent, earthly perfection b.

Fruitfulness, an extrinsic, earthly perfection c.

Heavenly glory, ultimate/transcendent end 6. 7. a. b. c. d. e. Means to spiritual growth The Spirit-Paraclete Sacraments Mary, the Mother of Jesus Witnesses and the ecclesial community The words of Christ Models of spiritual life and growth a.

Jesus, the Father’s Only Son b.

The disciple whom Jesus loved c.

Other representative figures 3. Name some exemplary qualities of “beloved discipleship” that you find beautiful and that you would like to live.

Have ready at least one specific gospel text that illustrates each quality.  An eager, seeking heart : Seeking and dwelling with Christ: (Jn 1:35-39 38 Alors Jésus, s'étant retourné et voyant qu'ils le suivaient, leur dit : « Que cherchez-vous ? » Et ils lui dirent : « Rabbi — ce qui, traduit, signifie Maître1 — où habites-tu ? » 1 maître, ici et ailleurs souvent : celui qui enseigne. 39 Il leur dit : « Venez et voyez ! » Ils allèrent donc et virent où il habitait ; et ils restèrent auprès de lui ce jour-là.

C'était environ la dixième heure.

) The beloved disciple is eager, has deep desire, ready to express this desire, share with others, loyal,  Perceptive, contemplative faith, called to abide (Jn 21: 7.20-23 ) 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I [a]will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die.

Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? perceptive faith, love for others, to help others, doesn’t enter into the “hearts” of others if not invited Discretion/humility (last supper revelation of future betrayal of Judas) Fraternal charity, interceding for Peter, being my brother’s keeper. Intimate friendship with Christ : Intimacy with Christ revealed in a trying moment: (Jn 13:21-30)  21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking.

23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.

25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ [a] So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

[b] 27 After he received the piece of bread,[c] Satan entered into him.

Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.

29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor.

30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out.

And it was night. Empathy, compassion, sensitive, rested on Jesus, knows himself to be loved, discreet  15 first Ecclesial piety Interceding for Peter: (Jn 18:15-18) letting Peter enter the empty tomb Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus.

Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate.

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.

17 The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ 18 Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves.

Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Purity of heart Entrusted with Jesus’ mother and contemplative witness to Jesus’ death (19:25-37) took over Jesus’ role of taking care of His mother, trustful  Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 27 Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there.

So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Docility and Witness : At the foot of the cross, Perceptive witness to the Risen Lord (Jn 20:3-10)  3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb.

4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.

He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. a.

Accepting the call to follow (Jn 1)  Trusting a witness  Leaving things behind  Seeking and abiding  Knowing oneself in Christ b.

Learning to see the glory of Jesus (Jn 1-2)  "And we saw his glory"  "You will see greater things"  "Jesus revealed his glory"  Learning to see Jesus in faith: c.

Hungering for spiritual food and sharing it (Jn 4-6)  The story of the Samaritan woman  Later, in Capernaum d.

Reaffirming our faith in times of darkness (Jn 6)  First challenge  The scandal  A test for his disciples.... »