DEDICATION TO THE GOSPEL
Introduction
The books that have been our main companions throughout the Easter Season end with the committed, enthusiastic witness to the Good News of Jesus: Paul in his captivity, and Peter, whose martyrdom is predicted, and John, the beloved apostle, who has given a true testimony of Jesus in his Gospel.
What is the witness we can give to Jesus? Does our way of life show that we believe in him and love him?
1 Reading ACTS 28:16-20, 30-31
When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,
with the soldier who was guarding him.
Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers,
although I had done nothing against our people
or our ancestral customs,
I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me,
because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.
But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar,
even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.
This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you
and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel
that I wear these chains.”
He remained for two full years in his lodgings.
He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7
R. (see 7b) The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
his searching glance is on mankind.
R.
The LORD searches the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds;
the upright shall see his face.
R.
Alleluia John 16:7, 13
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel John 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.
Commentary:
Why this insatiable curiosity to “look back” and know the fate of others? Such curiosity was fatal in the case of Lot’s wife: she could not resist the desire to look back and see how Sodom and Gomorrah were faring in the rain of brimstone and fire, and she turned into a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26). Fortunately, Peter’s curiosity about “the disciple Jesus loved” did not evoke such a salty punishment, but rather only a gentle rebuke.
We follow Christ invariably as a community of believers, but each believer, while walking together with others, must walk her unique path by herself. It is not unlike a married couple: even when you share one home and hearth, each of you has a unique path to journey by yourself. As Christ’s disciples, we have one Lord and Master, and one destiny awaits us all. However, each one walks the path in his/her own unique manner and style. Sometimes it is not a bad idea to mind one’s own business and trust others to mind their own as well.
Blessing
May the Church be an open book in which people can read the Word of God. The Lord be in your hearts and on your lips, that you may worthily proclaim his Gospel, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!