Lord, what about him?

At 28,16-20.30-31; Ps 10; Jn 21,20-25
8 JUNE

In the body of Christ the Lord, each member is clothed by the Holy Spirit with a special, particular and personal mission that is unique. Never will it be of others. Then, no one is given to know the mystery written by the Holy Spirit in others. Every day, day after day, he must ask the Spirit to enlighten him on the mission to be accomplished and on its concrete modalities. The body of Christ is in its entirety from the motion and gifts of grace of the Spirit of the Lord. Paul reveals this truth both in the First Letter to the Corinthians and in the Letter to the Ephesians. It is a mystery that surpasses every created mind.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (Cf. 1Cor 12,1-31).

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love (Eph 4,11-16).

After the call, Jesus gets up and Peter walks with the Master. He turns around and sees John that is following them and asks Jesus: “Lord, what will become of him?”. The answer is immediate: “If I want him to stay until I come, what does it matter to you?” This sentence of Jesus is interpreted incorrectly and John himself takes care to bring it back to its truth. Jesus did not say that John would not have died. He asked Peter not to be interested in the mystery of the other. It is a mystery and it must remain so. Peter’s life is also a mystery. From a fisherman to the head of the Church.

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.

In every Christian community it is urgent that everyone learns to see the other with the eyes of the Holy Spirit. There is no growth in the Church if the other is not seen as a gift from God for us. Our wealth is from the richness of the other, a true gift of the Spirit for us. For this reason one must clothe himself both of pure faith but also of great humility. The Holy Spirit acts in a direct and indirect way. We often ignore the indirect way.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints  arrange that every Christian sees the other as a gift of the Spirit.