REFLECTIONS TODAY While attention is given to Peter being entrusted with the care of Jesus’ flock, at the background stands a figure as important as Peter, even more important for the community that gave origin to the Fourth Gospel. He is known as the Beloved Disciple. He is said to be the witness and even the writer of what we know as the Gospel according to John. The Gospel is now seen as not written by John, the son of Zebedee and one of the Twelve. The true writer might even be someone who derived his materials from the Beloved Disciple whose closeness to Jesus earned him the sobriquet “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He was close to Jesus at the Last Supper, stood with Mary underneath Jesus’ cross, and first to point out Jesus, “It is the Lord.” In the “Johannine community,” it was even thought that he would not die, but this is corrected by the evangelist. He gives witness to Jesus not by the shedding of blood, but by his love and memory now contained in the Fourth Gospel. 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. SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.