SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER, MAY 23, 2026

MASS READINGS:

GOSPEL JOHN 21: 20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,

the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper

and had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?"

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come?

What concern is it of yours? 

"You follow me."

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.

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?"

It is this disciple who testifies to these things

and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

There are also many other things that Jesus did,

but if these were to be described individually,

I do not think the whole world would contain the books

that would be written.

REFLECTION

"Lord, what about him?"

When we are called to do something we do not want to do, we drag our feet, make up excuses, look around the room and think and maybe say, "Lord, what about him?"

This perpetual sin of questioning and being preoccupied with the affairs of others can distract us from the love of God. Forgetting our relationship with God and His love for us, we place our needs before His Will. So when He calls us to follow Him we cannot find the way. We are lost and really don't want to try to find it.

Before we find the path and our safe haven, we need to leave behind our malicious intents, human desires, possessions and wealth that have become our gods.

Walking the right way toward our eternal well being and our Creator necessitates living according to God's commands. We can talk all we want of God but our actions, our "yes" to God are what matter. Then we can hear Him say, "I AM the way. Follow me"! and off we go.

Do we count on our own strength? Do we hang around bad influencers? Do we blatantly follow the world and live carefree without compassion for others?

May we never forget that the Lord is our strength and He always has the last word. His last word is always hope.

Many are the plans in a

man's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose

that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

God Bless You