Mysterious, miraculous messages created our faith

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ While it is clear that everything in the New Testament is centered on Jesus, there are others who rise to a special place of importance in these scriptures today.

We have the final words from Acts. Paul is under house arrest, chained to a guard. This is said to have persisted for two years, during which time Paul preached as always and never minced words. Always bold! Always ready to say what needed to be said.

And the final two verses literally sum it and him up —

“He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

He sounds like the perfect disciple. It sounds like what every follower of the Lord should be about. It sounds like what should be printed on our tombstone or uttered by the priest from the altar at our funeral Mass. That would be so!

The Gospel of John also comes to an end — again. This strange, little “tacked-on” passage, after a previous conclusion in the previous chapter, consists of a conversation between Jesus and Peter.

In this final chapter, Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to redeem himself. Before the crucifixion, Peter fulfills the prophetic words that before the cock crowed twice, Peter would deny Jesus thrice. And so he did. He ran off and wept bitterly, hating that Jesus had known him so well. At least he didn’t hang himself like Judas. I guess he had some hope that forgiveness could be had.

But in this last chapter, Jesus calls out from Peter the exact opposite of this triple denial. Jesus asks Peter directly —

“Do you love me?”

And Peter says yes three times. The three bad — no, horrible; and the three good — no great!

Then a strange comment comes out of Peter’s mouth. Looking at John he then asks Jesus —

“Master, who is the one who will betray you? Lord, what about him?”

And Peter was clearly talking about John. This author wonders about this conversation even taking place since the betrayal took place before the crucifixion, not after as in this conversation. And further, it was Peter who did the betraying.

So what is going on here? A couple of things.

There is one absolute truth we know absolutely from the scriptures. We do not know the ipsissima verba of Jesus — that is, the exact or actual words of Jesus. And we know that to be absolutely true, because if we did have the exact or actual words of Jesus, then all four of the Gospels would quote Jesus exactly; there would not be any discrepancy among them. If even “one word” was different between or among the Gospel writers, then we would have to ask exactly what did Jesus say?

Now this is not just a tiny point; it is the point. The Gospels — and in fact, all of the scriptures — are a wonderful and wonderfully created story or stories of faith. They are miraculous and wonderful, mysterious, and filled with visions, messages, faith experience, and again, wonder!

And at least one source noted that the John being referred to by Peter may just be a “symbolic figure” who represents “the perfect” or “beloved disciple” as he appears at least four times in a distinct and special way — leaning on the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper. And standing at the foot of the cross; and going with Peter to the empty tomb on the day of the resurrection; and recognizing Jesus on the sea shore when, after the resurrection, Jesus appeared and told the disciples where the fish were to be found.

Does this “John” represent the “beloved disciple” that we are all called to be?

And finally, this Gospel was written some 70 years after the death of Jesus on that cross. Presumably, all of the Apostles were already dead — except John — if John the Apostle was the actual writer of this Gospel, as tradition seems to believe; further, what about the condition of the early church? Persecutions were promised by Jesus. Maybe it was absolutely necessary for Peter to redeem himself, and in place of denial, proclaim loudly and clearly his love for Jesus.

For Peter the rock, and truly the foundational stone upon which Jesus would “build his church,” wouldn’t it be absolutely necessary for people to have confidence in Peter and his successors? What a wonderful story, indeed!

Was this passage “ipsissima verba”; or just maybe an incredibly wonderful work of faith to bring the gift of discipleship to all who see and hear and believe!

That’s us, folks! That’s us!