Saturday, 08 June 2019 7th Week of Easter
1st Reading: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
Gospel: John 21:20-25
Peter looked back and saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following as well, the one who had reclined close to Jesus at the supper and had asked him, “Lord, who is to betray you?” On seeing him Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I come, does that concern you? Follow me.”
Because of this the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, “He will not die,” but “suppose I want him to remain until I come.”
It is this disciple who testifies about the things he has recorded here and we know that his testimony is true. But Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, the world itself would not hold the books recording them.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Today’s gospel is best understood in the light of the preceding passage John 21:15-19 where Peter assured Jesus three times of his love. It was then that Jesus entrusted to him the stewardship of his flock. The entrustment came with this warning: “You will stretch out your hand and another will tie it fast.” (Jn 21:18). Interpreted using the symbolisms of those times, this warning meant that Peter too was to undergo crucifixion. When the time came for this to happen, Peter asked to be crucified upside-down because he felt so unworthy to be honored with the same manner his master Jesus Christ died.
This was a sign of maturity in faith. But to get to this point, Peter had to go through a difficult process. He must have shivered while thinking of the implication of his acceptance of Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Thus, seeing Jesus’ favored disciple John, Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?” He was curious about whether or not John too would suffer like him. Jesus did not give a definite answer. Peter had to understand that instead of being a nosey parker, he should set his heart on his specific mission of taking care of the flock.
We act like Peter when we compare ourselves to others. It’s always greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes we use the fortunes of others as basis to complain to God for our sufferings. Let us respect God’s will for others and attend to our own sacrifices for our salvation and that of the world.
Postscript: The Gospel concludes: “Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, the world itself would not hold the books recording them”. If we adopt the “sola Scriptura” principle and limit ourselves to what is written in the Bible, even the Bible itself tells us that not everything that Jesus did and said are written down. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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