Gospel: John 21: 20-25
No sooner has Peter been restored to friendship with the Lord that he finds himself rebuked yet again. Peter was perseverating over the activities of another disciple - what about him, he asks Jesus. In response, Jesus says not to worry about what others are doing. You are instructed to follow the Lord, and to follow the Lord alone. Nothing else in our lives matters but to continually reflect on the Gospels and see how to follow the Lord in our lives each day.
How much time do we waste following athletes, politicians, media mavens, clerics, and other loud voices in public square! None of this is following the Lord who set about doing deeds of mercy and loving kindness to others. If we are about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, giving shelter to the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and welcoming the stranger and outcast, then we have no time for these false Christianities of the culture wars and quests for power.
Many voices exist who yell at us to follow them. All of those voices lead us astray and will fail us. Yet we gravitate to them from one to another. When one false idol fails us we go to another and another in an endless chain of vain pursuits. But one alone ought we to follow - the Lord Jesus - who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
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