Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 30, 2020 - 7th Week of Easter - Sat morning
[Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 and John 21:20-25]"When Peter saw him [John], 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." [John]
Parents are familiar with the complaint from one child that a sibling is getting favorable treatment. The author of the "Johannine Appendix" seems to have thought this rather strange big of dialogue was significant enough to include it in his story of Jesus' post-resurrection appearance on the seashore. Peter's impulsive inquiry is basically answered with, "Mind your own business. Just do what I have told YOU to do."
I suspect that most of us at one time or another may feel the way Peter did! Someone else is getting "different" or more "favorable" treatment from the Lord, and we forget the Lord's favors to us. Jesus' reply is simple. Our job is to follow HIM and not envy someone else's role or gifts. St. Paul had to deal with the same problem in the communities he founded. Apparently certain "gifts" of the Spirit were seen to be more attractive than others [1 Cor. 12].
Today is the last day of the Easter Season. We return to "Ordinary Time" next week. The coronavirus pandemic in this country seems to have consumed our Lent and our Easter and has put us through a "death and resurrection" experience. We are longing for "ordinary time" but we know that the "old normal" will be replaced by a new one or at least the "next" one. Whatever may come, we know what our marching orders from Jesus are: "Follow me!" AMEN
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