One would think St. John the Apostle shared his Gospel so that his hearers would believe in Jesus the Messiah. After all, he testified that this was why he wrote his Gospel (Jn 20:31). Yet John also writes that he testifies to Jesus so that his readers might share fellowship with his own community. The members of John’s community share fellowship with God the Father and God the Son (1 Jn 1:3). Knowing that his readers could experience such communal fellowship would make John’s joy complete (1 Jn 1:4).

This is God’s viewpoint. God greatly desires to have fellowship with us, even to the point of inviting us to share eternal life with Him (Jn 3:16). Jesus spread the Gospel to many, all the while greatly desiring to share the table fellowship of the Eucharistic meal with us (Lk 22:15).

As good as it is to spread the Gospel, it’s also good to want others to share life and fellowship with us (Acts 2:42; 1 Jn 1:3). St. John the Apostle learned this lesson personally. John didn’t want to share fellowship with Samaritans (Lk 9:52-54); he wanted to incinerate them! Jesus corrected him immediately (Lk 9:55). After Pentecost, John actually went to Samaria to pray with these same Samaritans so they could receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

We also need to learn John’s lesson. Are there people whom you would like to become believers, but only if they keep their distance from you? Ask the Lord for the grace to love these people as He does.

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