Follow The Master

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 7th Week of Easter, Year B, May  22nd, 2021
Texts: Acts 28:16-20.30; Ps. 114:4.5.7; John 21:20-25
Our business as Christians is to follow our master, our Lord Jesus Christ. Many a time we look aside and bother ourselves with other things that are not of our concern. This occurs when we allow the deeds of others to affect our faith. Sometime it may not be action or inaction of a person, it may be a challenge, a problem. Peter, in today's gospel reading, looked aside when he asked Jesus the question:  “Lord, what about this man?” Peter got distracted with the love that Jesus had for the disciple. This is evident in the words: "Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, 'Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?' When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about this man?'” Could we say that Peter was jealous of him? Perhaps, he did. The issue here is that we are not to allow the fortune or misfortune of another to distract us from following Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ encourages us not to look aside but always follow Him. He told Peter thus: “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”
The gospel reading also reminds us of possibility of misinformation here and there. Any misinformation is a distraction from the truth. The people misunderstood what Jesus Christ said and they went about misinforming others. It is said thus: "Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!' The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?'” This tells us to be very careful and diligent in accepting information. We always stand the risk of being misinformed day by day. This also reminds us not to pass any information we are not sure of. Misinformation can kill. There are many ways to kill without carrying gun, cutlass or any weapon of such. In our age information has become a weapon to kill and destroy. Let us be careful of information we pass around in social media. Let us stop distracting people from the truth.
The Spirit of truth is coming, as promised by Jesus Christ, to lead us to the truth. We need Holy Spirit to  be able to discern the truth. As we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, let us make ourselves worthy for His indwelling in us.
Paul, in today's first reading, did not allow his trial to stand on the way of the gospel, he did not allow it to stand on the way of his relationship with God. When he got to Rome he began to proclaim the gospel unbothered by his trial. Paul was an example of a person who followed Jesus Christ in and out of season. It is said of him thus: "And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered." We are to be like Paul, following Jesus Christ in and out of season.

God our Father, send us the Holy Spirit, that we may know the truth and be focused in following Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke