My dear brothers and sisters, today we reach the final verses of both the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Saint John. It is a moment ...
My dear brothers and sisters, today we reach the final verses of both the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Saint John. It is a moment of culmination, drawing the great Easter season to its close right on the doorstep of Pentecost.
In the First Reading, we find Saint Paul arriving at his final destination: Rome. He is living under house arrest, bound physically to a Roman soldier. He is Chained. Yet, look at the irony—though his body is restricted, the Word of God is completely unchained. For two full years, right from his rented lodgings, he welcomes everyone, proclaiming the Kingdom of God with absolute fearlessness and without any hindrance.
How could Paul remain so vibrant while in captivity? Because his mind was entirely Concentrated on Jesus Christ. We see a similar lesson in the Gospel when Peter turns around, notices John, and asks Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus instantly corrects Peter's distraction, saying, 'What concern is it of yours? You follow me.' Jesus calls Peter—and calls each one of us—to stop comparing our spiritual journeys with others, and to stay concentrated on our personal call to discipleship.
When our focus is pulled away by comparisons, jealousy, or external limitations, we lose our peace. But when we focus purely on Christ, our witness becomes Complete. John closes his Gospel by noting that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written if everything Jesus did were recorded.
The ink may have dried on John’s parchment, but the story of Jesus continues to be written through our lives. Even when we feel chained by our circumstances, let us stay concentrated on Christ, so that His mission in us may be complete. Amen
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