103 posts 6/14/2007 4:17 pm
Last Read:
6/14/2007 4:20 pm
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John 21:20-23... The Beloved Disciples... Reflect
John 21:20-23... The Beloved Disciples... Reflect
Our gospel reading contains the very last verses of John’s gospel. This gospel ends by predicting the different fates of Peter and John. That of Peter was presented in yesterday’s gospel reading. There Jesus predicted that Peter would die a martyr’s death. And Peter did suffer martyrdom in Rome some 30 years later, namely between the years 64 and 67 AD. As for John, he died a natural death at an advanced old age sometime between 90 and 100 AD. Because he lived on to be so old, many Christians believed that he would not die before the return of Christ at the end of the world. This belief was based on Jesus mysterious words to Peter, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours. You follow me.” These words, the evangelist explains, were not at all a promise. The Christians who understood it that way were mistaken, Jesus had only said, “Suppose that…” He was only telling Peter to mind his own business. In other words, Jesus saw in Peter’s question about John’s fate not so much fraternal concern as idle curiosity.
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365 Days with the Lord
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