Saturday of Seventh Week after Easter, May 26,2007

Scripture: Acts 28:16-20,30-31. Psalm 11. John 21:20-25. Lectionary #302:

Scholars tell us that chapter 21 has been added as a second conclusion to
the Fourth Gospel, that of John the Evangelist. The selection we listen to
is the very last pericope of that chapter and renews the purpose of the
Gospel, but the real theme threaded through this portion of the text is the
relationship of Jesus with the Beloved Disciple. We have seen that the
author of this chapter has respect for the person of St. Peter, but the
founder of the community is the Beloved Disciple who is traditionally known
as St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. He is probably behind the start of
this Gospel which was then developed by several from the community of the
Beloved Disciple. This is probably true for the three letters called the
epistles of St. John. Peter is the one who asks Jesus about the Beloved
Disciple. Is he not going to die? Will he have a special relationship to
the Lord? Jesus is not saying that he will not die. Peter has been told
about his aging and death, but this is not done for the Beloved Disciple.
The passage is fascinating and an excellent ending to the Fourth Gospel
probably by the final author as a tribute to the Beloved Disciple. Verse 24
gives us the last look at who the Beloved Disciple is and what his role was
in the founding of the Christian community to which this Gospel is
addressed: "This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has
written them, and we know his testimony is true." He is the disciple who
stood at the foot of the Cross with Mary the mother of Jesus and to whom
both were entrusted to each other and who symbolize the Jewish and Gentile
members of the Church. Mary as the faithful and courageous Woman of faith,
and John as the witness and preacher of the great commandment of love
understood in the way Jesus taught his disciples on the night before he
died. The Church is born at the foot of the Cross and the events of the
Passion leading to the last breath of Jesus together with theflowing of his
blood mixed with water symbolize the beginning of the Christian community
of love and entrustment. Demetrius Dumm, O.S.B. sums up this last chapter
by telling us to recall the discourses of chapters 13:31-17:26. "John
continues to reflect upon the implications of the resurrection of Jesus in
the "farewell discourses....In this effort, they were assisted by the
Paraclete Spirit, who inspired them to trust the power of unselfishness in
a world that prizes other kinds of power. These discourses are addressed to
all of us as well. Being attentive and obedient to the Spirit among us is
the only way to discover who Jesus really is and how we can gradually come
to live and love in him and thereby to become participants in his divine
life. In a word, these discourses lead us into a deeper appreciation of
that truth which became incarnate in Jesus and which enables us to make
the most of this wonderful opportunity we call human life." (Demetrius
Dumm, A Mystical Portrait of Jesus: new perspectives on John's Gospel, page
44, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2001).