Friday 29 December 2023
Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!' (v. 22)
Background
The precursor to this passage (John 21:15-17) finds us listening in to an intimate conversation between Peter and Jesus when Peter is offered the chance to step back from his trice-repeated denial of Christ and to be a shepherd for the sheep (ie take care of Jesus' followers).
Today's passage reminds us that we should never try to second guess God.
In the Church it is sometimes easy to become bitter or envious or even disempowered by the lives of others who seem to be ‘better’ followers of Jesus than we feel ourselves to be. That judgement is not ours to make and, in actual fact, our attention should be upon the relationship and calling we have experienced of God and then living and working that out in our everyday lives, alongside other followers of Jesus who are trying to do the same.
How others express or experience their faith is their business, not ours. Our relationship with God is unique: it includes how we hear God, experience God, follow God's lead and witness to others within the communities to which we belong.
If that sounds very individualistic, remember that, to counter living in splendid isolation and spending too much time naval gazing, we are also called to share worship and prayer, and to encourage and help each other on our journeys.
God uses, gifts and equips each one of us for the task that God has in mind for us. How God deals with others is not our concern or our decision.
Perhaps this is good food for thought as we approach the end of one year and prepare to enter a new one!
To Ponder:
Ask yourself: how have I experienced God at work this year? What did that mean to me, or do to me?
Prayer
Lord, help me to focus on what you are calling me to be, or do, for you and with you. Protect me from the envy, jealousy or judgement of others who do not react and respond in the ways I would want. Amen.