Lord, what about him?

SATURDAY 30 MAY (Jn 21,20-25)

The mystery of every vocation is a mystery which is jealously guarded in the heart of the Father. This mystery is only revealed day-to-day by the Holy Spirit to the mind of each individual called. Everyone must ask the Spirit of God to reveal to him what he must do, according to the will of God. But everyone must also invoke the Spirit to always lead him on the right path and straighten him should he swerve or bend both to the right and to the left. Saul was seized by the Lord on the road to Damascus. The Lord manifested the mystery of this call to Ananias, wanting to reassure the Church that everything started from his heart. The persecuting Saul no longer existed. He had added a faithful missionary to the community, to be sent to the pagans for their conversion: “There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength” (At 9,10-19). The Lord makes known a part of the mystery. The whole mystery of a man always remains hidden in his heart. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals it as it must be realized in history. Today for today. Tomorrow for tomorrow.

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.

Simon Peter would like to know the mystery of John. Jesus replies him that this will never be possible. The mystery is hidden in the heart of the Father. It will be the Spirit of the Lord to reveal it, just as it is going to be fulfilled. Answering this way, Jesus teaches us that each of us must pay all attention to know what the Lord has written for him and to be able to carry it out with all wisdom and intelligence in the Holy Spirit. Today Simon Peter is invited to follow Jesus, to walk behind him. But even Jesus did not know where he would have laid his head in death. His days were all written in the Father’s heart and revealed to him day by day to give them complete fulfillment according to the truth and charity that are in the Father and in the Holy Spirit. Every day Simon Peter will also have to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten him so that he can fulfill what is written for him in the heart of the Father, for Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Paul is sent on a mission by the Holy Spirit. But it is always the Spirit who leads him to the places where the Father wants to bring his salvation. Does Paolo know his tomorrow? It is revealed to him tomorrow by the Holy Spirit. Having this supernatural vision is necessary so that we do the Father’s will, in Christ, for the Holy Spirit and also to help others to know and fulfill it in Christ for the Holy Spirit.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make sure that everything in us is always by the Holy Spirit.