examination of the heart 466 any cross. He eagerly answered: “We are able,” when the Savior asked him and his brother: “Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” (Mt 20:22). The third reason is that he was the most chaste, and hence the Lord, nailed to the Cross, committed the Virgin Mother to the virgin disciple (cf. Jn 19:27). The fourth is the great spiritual love, on account of which (and not out of natural love, because he was possibly His brother),229 he accompanied his Teacher, Who he recognized as the Son of God and worshiped as the true Messiah. Moreover, he proved his love at the time when all other disciples had scattered in flight, and he alone followed Jesus to the High Priest,230 to the Judge and to the Cross; and he never left Him until he had performed what was due to the Most Holy Body. As for you, if you would like to be loved by Jesus, highly esteem and practice the virtues which John himself practiced. 2. “who had lain close to [H]is breast at the supper” (Jn 21:20). Of all the Evangelists, St. John was the one who handed down to the world the most sublime teaching, the teaching that he drew indeed from no other source than the most divine Heart on which he rested. Think, therefore, how great would be those gifts, talents, and graces; what sublime knowledge would be acquired by those who prepare themselves adequately for introducing [f.150r] the Lord into their hearts. Oh, if you want to draw today from the Heart of the Savior the waters of heavenly wisdom, drive away worldly knowledge from yours, so that upon His coming He may find it clear and imprint on it, as if on a clean tablet, whatever He wills! 229 The assertion that John was possibly a brother of Jesus is explained in the following way: “[T]he mother of the brothers [(John and James)] may have been the sister of the Virgin Mary, and … therefore, the brothers may have been cousins of Jesus” (R. E. Brown, NCE, vol. VII, p. 1005 (s.v. John, Apostle, St.)). In Polish, a first cousin is said to be a brother from the side of the aunt (“brat cioteczny”). 230 Cf. Jn 18:14-15, where when “another disciple" is said, the Evangelist himself is to be recognized.
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