Miláček Páně – Jančařík Zdeněk (2019)

Did the evangelist John hold a privileged position among the apostles? At the Last Supper, he "lay on the Lord's breast," he was the only one of the apostles standing under the cross, and Jesus entrusted his mother to him from the cross. The Gospel of Saint John, the Beloved of the Lord, summarizes Jesus' story through the eyes of a disciple who was loved. According to tradition, it was written by an old man reflecting on Jesus' life and his ministry with "Easter eyes" at the end of his life. Jesus' baptism, miracles, and several significant encounters (with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha in Bethany) are described against the backdrop of the resurrection. The story unfolds as if from the end, with the awareness of the conclusion (resurrection) reflected in all the words of the gospel. This creates space for deep dives into situations that other evangelists only touch upon with a few words or hints (the multiplication of loaves, the washing of feet), or do not mention at all (the wedding at Cana, the resurrection of Lazarus). A well-known Salesian author writes about the "Beloved of the Lord" against the backdrop of his reflections on contemporary Christianity and the role of priests and "apostles" in today's world. He tries to understand why being loved also means the ability to pass on love and be a "Beloved" for others. From his priestly practice, he writes about situations where the role of the "Beloved" was not fulfilled, or where...