From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his searching glance is on mankind. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (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.”
Today’s Gospel begins where yesterday’s left off, after Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter’s question, “Lord, what about him?” concerns John, who follows close behind them. Jesus’ response to Peter tells us that he knows what will happen to each of the disciples because they follow him; more than that, he suggests that each disciple has a unique role as individual persons in spreading the Gospel. “What concern is it of yours?” Jesus asks, as if to say, “Don’t have any concern at all about the way that I call others to serve me. “You, Peter, follow me.” John himself as a witness confirms the conversation that had taken place between Jesus and Peter. “It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them,” he says, “and we know that his testimony is true.” As with Peter and John, in what personal way does Jesus invite you to follow him?
Father in heaven, in his searching for answers, Peter seems to look for something more from Jesus, questioning him. Today’s Gospel acclamation reminds me that constant guidance is available from the Holy Spirit. “I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth.” John testifies to the many things that Jesus did. Paul, in prison, received all who came to him and “without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Give me the gift of fortitude, Lord, to be strong in my faith and witness to you for the sake of your glory. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.