Daily Reflection Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

Today and tomorrow we conclude the great twenty-first chapter of John, the first part of which was read at the liturgy quite some time ago. This mysterious, post-resurrection account is thought of by most scholars today as coming from a different source than the rest of John. It could therefore very possibly have been added later by a “redactor” (an editor) for reasons we can now only speculate. However, the most ancient extant manuscripts we have of John’s gospel all contain Chapter 21, so if it was added later, it was very early on. It is thus impossible to ever be entirely sure of where it came from and some still argue that it was from the same evangelist who wrote the rest of the gospel of John.
 
Whatever its origin, it has undeniably immense power and significance. It makes the gospel of John the only canonical account that contains two post-resurrection chapters. It is decidedly in two distinct parts. The first part has Peter and several other disciples (including the mysterious Johannine figure of “the disciple whom Jesus loved” who, we are finally told in the second part, is the eyewitness whose testimony the gospel of John relies upon) dejectedly return to fishing in Lake Galilee (the Sea of Tiberius) where, after a fruitless night, Jesus, unrecognized, calls to them from the shore and they then (miraculously) catch a large haul of fish (one hundred fifty-three). It is the beloved disciple who then recognizes Jesus, whereupon Peter impulsively leaps into the water, swims to shore and pulls in the net with the catch while Jesus cooks them breakfast on the beach which they all proceed to eat in total silence, no one daring to say a word until Jesus speaks (one wonders how they endured it). It is the most utterly extraordinary of all the meetings of the risen Christ in all the gospels, in my humble opinion.
 
The second part we hear today and tomorrow. First, Peter’s agonizing triple confession to Jesus (for each of his three denials) and the Lord telling him to “feed my sheep” (confirming Peter’s leadership status to the post Apostolic Church which John’s gospel, fully written after 90 A.D., is addressed to) followed by Jesus prophesying Peter’s eventual martyrdom.
 
That is quite powerful in itself, of course, but the section I wish to reflect on here is in tomorrow’s reading. For Peter, being Peter, can’t help asking Jesus about the beloved disciple, what will happen to him (I suppose elicited from Jesus’ prophecy about Peter’s future). The Lord memorably replies to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
 
How often do the lives of others make us jealous or envious or leave us questioning our own lives, even our own worth? How often do we find ourselves comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves less than? Or worse, do we look down our noses at others, find fault with them, judge or even condemn them somehow? In all this we would do well to hear Jesus say to us, as he did to Peter whom he dearly loved, “What is that to you?” St. Paul told the Philippians, “Have the same attitude that Christ had, who, though he was in the form of God… emptied himself, taking the form of a slave.” This can be understood as, have the same attitude toward everyone. To follow Jesus is to come to realize that even though there seems to be such inequality in the world, that some seem to have so much while others so little, it is all a mirage. Underneath it all there lies the same human being in everyone: fragile, alone, vulnerable, dependent, afraid, bewildered and so very much in need whether they realize it or not. No one has anything that wasn’t somehow simply given them. We don’t know why some seem to be given more. But it is certainly not a reward. No one has earned anything. Taking pride in any of it or envying those who do is probably the height of folly. Again, at the judgement, our achievements and honors, our labors and accomplishments, or lack of them, all that seemed to make us more or less in the eyes of the world, none of that will ultimately matter. All that will finally matter is the question Jesus will ask us all, “Did you love one another as I loved you?” For to have the same attitude toward all is to love them all as Jesus loves you. In that love, all envy and rivalry and judgement collapses. For they are all from fear, and the perfect love of God casts out all fear.