June 8, 2019 – Saturday 7^th Week of Easter

Jn 21: 20-25

 

“Lord, what about him?” – Jn 21: 21

When we begin to compare ourselves with others. Our insecurities will grow. We will also begin to either belittle others to compensate our incapacities or belittle ourselves that feeds self-pity and low self-esteem.

This kind of feeling irritates all ages, young and old, students and professional, children and parents. This makes us feel inadequate, unworthy, and lesser being than others. Thus, this could also affect on how we relate with others even among siblings, or friends, classmates or colleagues at work.

When this happens in us also, we tend to be bitter not just with others but also with ourselves. We will tend to see to what is only negative and wrong. This makes then, ungrateful to others and to God. We also become unhappy of the successes and achievements of people around us. And takes pleasure at the mistakes and failures of others.

However, God does not want us to become this kind of person. God desires that each of us will realize our own potentials and capacities, but, most of all, of our very identity before God. We are loved! We are God’s beloveds.

Today’s Gospel tells us about Peter and the beloved disciple of Jesus. Peter asked Jesus, “What about him Lord?” which means, “Do you also have plans for the beloved disciple? Do you have something in mind for him aside from me?” Peter seemed to be so concerned about the beloved disciple; yet, Jesus told him that it was not his concern.

Peter was called to a particular mission as the beloved disciple too was called to a particular mission. Jesus wanted Peter not to make it his concern about others and even not to be disturbed by others, but to focus on what Jesus called him to be.

It was invitation for Peter to be confident with himself and with his gifts, with his capacities and potentials, and with the Lord who called him and also loved him.

Definitely, each of us is also called by the Lord in different ways and to different tasks as Peter and the beloved disciple and the rest of the group was called each according to God’s desire and according to their gifts and weaknesses, capacities and willingness.

We knew, then, that the beloved disciple was called to testify to the Lord not through martyrdom. The beloved disciple died out of old age. And through him, the Gospel of John was written to tell the world of the wonders God has done for us. In fact, he himself told us in the Gospel that all those things that Jesus did, if everything will be written, the world will not be able to contain those books.

Hence, God’s wonder and goodness continue to overflow to each of us today. It is just right to fully trust this God who became human like us, who expressed his love for us in the most concrete way.

Jesus invites us to also discover his plan for us, to stop comparing ourselves from others, but rather, to become more confident of the gifts that God has given us. When we become confident of our gifts and more accepting of our weaknesses, then, we shall also begin to discover who we are really before God. This identity then, will lead us to that particular vocation that God calls us.

Hopefully, through our lives, we too shall become Jesus’ witnesses to the world, people who shall share and proclaim how good God is. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR