“How much time he gains who does not
look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does
himself, to make it just and holy.” ― Marcus Aurelius: Roman Emperor 161–180 AD)
Gospel Text: (JN 21:20-25)
Peter turned and saw the disciple
following whom Jesus loved,
the one who had also reclined upon his
chest during the supper
and had said, “Master, who is the one
who will betray you?”
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus,
“Lord, what about him?”
Jesus said to him, “What if I want him
to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?
You follow me.”
So the word spread among the brothers
that that disciple would not die.
But Jesus had not told him that he
would not die,
just “What if I want him to remain
until I come?
What concern is it of yours?”
It is this disciple who testifies to
these things
and has written them, and we know that
his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that
Jesus did,
but if these were to be described
individually,
I do not think the whole world would
contain the books
that would be written.
“What concern is it of yours? You
follow me.”
By Jesus’ response we see that Peter
is probably not asking out of idle curiosity, but perhaps trying to compare
himself with the beloved disciple; to see whether the beloved disciple is going
to get some special treatment or a better prediction of his fate. Have you ever
encountered anyone who did the same thing, always checking to see what other
people get and how it compares to what they have received? Perhaps you have
fallen into the same trap yourselves. I know I have.
Checking to see how much others have
and how much we don’t, or trying to determine whether they should be loved by
God or not, is not our purpose as disciples.
When we find ourselves asking, “What
about him, or her, or them?” Jesus has answered our question by His Cross and
the empty tomb: They are beloved by God.
May we share Jesus’ answer with the
world.
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