When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
This question of Peter's is something we can regard as progress. Previously when the disciples heard about the impending death of Jesus they argued about who among them was the greatest. Now, in response to the his own eventual martyrdom for Jesus Peter still compared himself to others, but now desired equality or fairness rather than preeminence. Peter heard about his own destiny and thought it would be easier to bear if it was not unique to him. If he was beginning to see martyrdom as the only way or the best way that the one could give witness to Jesus then wanting to ensure John also gave such a witness was not entirely selfish or mean spirited. And yet, there was probably some fear and self-pity mixed into the response, as though he thought 'If I have to do it, others should as well'. But even there, since what he had to do was because of his love for Jesus it wasn't entirely immature to wish it for others. This is common enough in those who had their character built by the endurance of great difficulty. They may well see those who grow up in less challenging times as soft and unproven, as though they would benefit from going through the same trials they did.
What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?
Jesus told Peter that comparing himself to John or to anyone else was not going to be helpful, not for him, and not for John. Jesus had a unique path planned for each and every disciple, all with unique challenges, but also all replete with the grace necessary to face those challenges. All disciples were called to bear witness to Jesus. All were called, in some way, to partake of his cross. But not all were called to die the death of martyrs. The one Body of Christ had many members, and functioned well only when those members played their unique roles.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ (see First Corinthians 12:12).
So, perhaps surprisingly, our Gospel for today does help us prepare for Pentecost. We see from it that, "there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone" (see First Corinthians 12:5-6). We need the grace of the Spirit to help us heed the call that Jesus first made to Peter, and now makes to us as well, to follow him in the unique way he has predestined for each of us. He has planned for each of us unique good works in which we are meant to walk (see Ephesians 2:10). But it is the Spirit who makes this possible. He guides and gifts us to live the path that is uniquely our own. And when his grace fills us we will not be tempted to compare our lot unfavorably with others around us, since, even if it is not an easy path, we do not need to attempt it alone and unaided.
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?"
John also had a unique role to play in the building of the Church, and an irreplaceable testimony to Jesus to make known. Peter gave the testimony of his life, a fact that endures in to our own day, since his bones are present in Saint Peter's Basilica. But John gave us the witness of his Gospel, which does very much remain to our day, and continues to testify to the things he knew to be true¹. It is a living witness to what Jesus said and did so that all who read it may have life in his name (see John 20:31).
Unless we are led by the Spirit to find the unique ways Jesus has called us to follow him we are always going to end up thinking that the grass is greener somewhere else, with self-pity about the lot that is ours. But when we walk by the Spirit we are empowered to face any challenge and to bear fruit that will remain (see John 15:16), just as both Peter and John first did.
1) Martin, Francis; Wright, William M. IV. The Gospel of John (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture): (A Catholic Bible Commentary on the New Testament by Trusted Catholic Biblical Scholars - CCSS) (p. 355). (Function). Kindle Edition.
(caution: rap) NF - Destiny
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