FAUSTI - Simone di Giovanni, now he is really Peter. After these words he "turns" and sees the other disciple, the one that Jesus loved. While Peter is called to follow Jesus, this other one already follows Him, because he knows love. Now he can turn to him and see him, because he too is converted to love, thanks to the forgiveness he has received. Peter now understands the role of the other disciple. The two have always been named together, except in 6:68 where Simon speaks alone, and at the foot of the cross, (19:26-35) where the other disciple is without Simon. Now even Peter can identify with him, because he has understood who is the one for whom the Lord dies. "He who lay on His breast" is the definition of the beloved disciple, witness of love and author of the Gospel. He lies on the breast of the Son as the Son to the bosom of the Father (1:18). For this reason he is able to tell us the Son who tells us the Father. Now also Peter, like him, knows that the Lord loved him and gave his life for those who deny and for those who betray, for those who understand and for those who do not understand. He knows that God who so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son to save it (3:16). - "Lord, and of him, what will he be?" Peter questions Jesus about the future of the other disciple, who says nothing in the Gospel. Only he presents himself at the end as an eyewitness of the Pierced One (19,35) and author of the Gospel (20,31), as also confirmed by the editor (21,24). Peter cares for him. Certainly the presence of someone so "other" than him, who always anticipates him, is a problem for him. Does he think of following him, because he really follows the Lord? "If I want him to stay as long as I come, what does it matter to you?" It is not a simple allusion to the longevity of the Evangelist of the fourth Gospel: Jesus positively wants this disciple to "dwell" as long as He comes. Love is in fact a lasting witness to the coming into the world of that God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8). In Him, the profound mystery of history is revealed: the coming of the Lord consists in accepting His love for us, from which our response of love for Him and His brothers and sisters flows. "God is love; he who is in love abides in God and God abides in him. The coming of the Lord is love itself, which makes us His dwelling place. "You follow me" He does not tell Peter to follow him: he repeats to him. "You follow me. Exactly like the other disciple who represents, beyond all function, the very essence of the disciple. He is not to follow, but to imitate. He follows the best path, that of love, the crown of faith and hope, which will never wane. It was thought that that disciple would not die before the coming of the Lord. That is why it was said that John, now very old, had simply fallen asleep waiting for the coming of the Lord. " But Jesus did not tell him that "he does not die". There is the correction on the belief of the community. Jesus does not say that the beloved disciple "does not die". simply wants him to "dwell" on earth until His return. For he remains as a witness of the Lord, whose return to us now lies in our loving response to the Love received. John is truly immortal. Knowing the Love of the Lord, he points out to all the source of the water that gushes for eternal life (14:4-19:34-35). His presence, indefectible, like the God Love, calls Peter and all to that love which is the beginning, means and aim of the whole Gospel (19,35 - 20,30), which makes his witness present to us.
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 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.
Gospel of the day From the Gospel according to 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.
The words of the Popes This conversation between Jesus and Peter contains a valuable teaching for all disciples, for all of us believers (…) beginning with the temptation — very human, undoubtedly, but also very insidious — to preserve our protagonism. And at times the protagonist has to diminish, has to lower him or herself (…). But you will have another way of expressing yourself, another way of participating in the family, in society, in a group of friends. And it is the curiosity that comes to Peter: “What about him?”, says Peter, seeing the beloved disciple following them (cf. vv. 20-21). Sticking your nose in other people’s lives. But no: Jesus says: “Shut up!”. Does he have to be part of “my” following [of Jesus]? Does he have to occupy “my” space? Will he be my successor? These are questions that do no good, that don’t help. Must he outlive me and take my place? Jesus’ answer is frank and even rude: “What is that to you? Follow me” (v. 22). As if saying: You worry about your own life, about your present situation, and don’t stick your nose into the lives of others. You follow me. This is important: following Jesus, to follow Jesus in life and in death, in health and in sickness, in life when it is prosperous with many successes, and in life even when it is difficult with many bad moments of failing. And when we want to insert ourselves into other people’s lives, Jesus answers, “What is that to you? Follow me”. Beautiful. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 22 June 2022)
FAUSTI - Simone di Giovanni, now he is really Peter. After these words he "turns" and sees the other disciple, the one that Jesus loved. While Peter is called to follow Jesus, this other one already follows Him, because he knows love. Now he can turn to him and see him, because he too is converted to love, thanks to the forgiveness he has received.
RispondiEliminaPeter now understands the role of the other disciple. The two have always been named together, except in 6:68 where Simon speaks alone, and at the foot of the cross, (19:26-35) where the other disciple is without Simon. Now even Peter can identify with him, because he has understood who is the one for whom the Lord dies. "He who lay on His breast" is the definition of the beloved disciple, witness of love and author of the Gospel. He lies on the breast of the Son as the Son to the bosom of the Father (1:18).
For this reason he is able to tell us the Son who tells us the Father.
Now also Peter, like him, knows that the Lord loved him and gave his life for those who deny and for those who betray, for those who understand and for those who do not understand. He knows that God who so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son to save it (3:16). - "Lord, and of him, what will he be?" Peter questions Jesus about the future of the other disciple, who says nothing in the Gospel. Only he presents himself at the end as an eyewitness of the Pierced One (19,35) and author of the Gospel (20,31), as also confirmed by the editor (21,24).
Peter cares for him. Certainly the presence of someone so "other" than him, who always anticipates him, is a problem for him. Does he think of following him, because he really follows the Lord?
"If I want him to stay as long as I come, what does it matter to you?" It is not a simple allusion to the longevity of the Evangelist of the fourth Gospel: Jesus positively wants this disciple to "dwell" as long as He comes. Love is in fact a lasting witness to the coming into the world of that God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8). In Him, the profound mystery of history is revealed: the coming of the Lord consists in accepting His love for us, from which our response of love for Him and His brothers and sisters flows. "God is love; he who is in love abides in God and God abides in him. The coming of the Lord is love itself, which makes us His dwelling place.
"You follow me" He does not tell Peter to follow him: he repeats to him. "You follow me. Exactly like the other disciple who represents, beyond all function, the very essence of the disciple. He is not to follow, but to imitate. He follows the best path, that of love, the crown of faith and hope, which will never wane.
It was thought that that disciple would not die before the coming of the Lord.
That is why it was said that John, now very old, had simply fallen asleep waiting for the coming of the Lord. " But Jesus did not tell him that "he does not die". There is the correction on the belief of the community. Jesus does not say that the beloved disciple "does not die". simply wants him to "dwell" on earth until His return. For he remains as a witness of the Lord, whose return to us now lies in our loving response to the Love received.
John is truly immortal.
Knowing the Love of the Lord, he points out to all the source of the water that gushes for eternal life (14:4-19:34-35). His presence, indefectible, like the God Love, calls Peter and all to that love which is the beginning, means and aim of the whole Gospel (19,35 - 20,30), which makes his witness present to us.
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
RispondiEliminaActs 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.
Gospel of the day
From the Gospel according to 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.
The words of the Popes
This conversation between Jesus and Peter contains a valuable teaching for all disciples, for all of us believers (…) beginning with the temptation — very human, undoubtedly, but also very insidious — to preserve our protagonism. And at times the protagonist has to diminish, has to lower him or herself (…). But you will have another way of expressing yourself, another way of participating in the family, in society, in a group of friends. And it is the curiosity that comes to Peter: “What about him?”, says Peter, seeing the beloved disciple following them (cf. vv. 20-21). Sticking your nose in other people’s lives. But no: Jesus says: “Shut up!”. Does he have to be part of “my” following [of Jesus]? Does he have to occupy “my” space? Will he be my successor? These are questions that do no good, that don’t help. Must he outlive me and take my place? Jesus’ answer is frank and even rude: “What is that to you? Follow me” (v. 22). As if saying: You worry about your own life, about your present situation, and don’t stick your nose into the lives of others. You follow me. This is important: following Jesus, to follow Jesus in life and in death, in health and in sickness, in life when it is prosperous with many successes, and in life even when it is difficult with many bad moments of failing. And when we want to insert ourselves into other people’s lives, Jesus answers, “What is that to you? Follow me”. Beautiful. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 22 June 2022)
RispondiEliminaAnd ask for nothing, not even faith:
sing to love
and spread joy,
with eyes filled with beauty. D. M. Turoldo