Word to the Wise
Friday, June 3, 2022 - 7th Week of Easter - Fri
[Acts 25:13b-21 and John 21:15-19]"Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." [John]
JUNE 3 ST. CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS, martyrs
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The long Easter journey into the Gospel According to John, especially the chapters containing the story of the Last Supper (13-17), will come to an end this Sunday with the celebration of the feast of Pentecost. Today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) there are two passages from chapter 21, the "Johannine Appendix." It appears to be by a different hand than the preceding gospel and reports an additional post-resurrection appearance of Jesus. Among other things there is a story similar to the call of Peter in Luke 5:1-11, a triple challenge to Peter that seems to parallel his triple denial of Jesus, and a challenge to both Peter and the Beloved Disciple: "Follow me!"
The challenge to Peter, quoted above, includes words that are frequently in my mind as I enter more deeply into "elderhood!" (I will be 80 years old next February) : "When you were young....etc." Even though I am considered to be "retired," (our Dominican term is "limited service"), I live in a university community and am surrounded by youth. In so many ways, the students "keep me young," but there is no stopping the passage of time and the social, spiritual, emotional and physical challenges that come with that passage. As any family with elderly parents knows, these challenges are not simply those to the aging parents but challenges to those who love them. Jesus' command - "Follow me!" - is addressed to both the elderly and the younger! In a culture where the multi-generational family unit is fast disappearing, all too frequently the elderly are isolated and moved away from the family circle. No amount of comforting services and environment can substitute for the presence of loved ones. One of the most frequent complaints I hear from the elderly is that they do not see children and grandchildren as often as they would like.
Jesus' words to Peter describe not only the process of aging and loss of independence but also the loss of "inter-dependence" that comes from loving relationships. The "Follow me!" challenge impacts us all! AMEN