(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)Who was left in charge of the Church after Jesus’ glorification? We want to say Peter, but apparently some felt that the Beloved Disciple, whom they named John, should have been the one. It was the Beloved Disciple, aka John, who had stood at the cross of Jesus. It was the Beloved Disciple, aka John, who had led the Beloved Disciple’s community for many years. He, however, had eventually died. Who should be in charge?
We have come to the last chapter of the Gospel according to John. In this chapter, we can read how the Beloved Disciple, as he had other times in this Gospel, acted as intermediary between Jesus and Peter. We could draw the conclusion that the Gospel according to John wanted to name the Beloved Disciple as the one whose office would continue in the Church after his death.
In this chapter, however, we can hear very clearly that the Lord entrusted the leadership to Peter, who had already died at the time of the composition of this Gospel. Peter’s office, then, would continue. The office of the Beloved Disciple, although he had outlived Peter, would not continue after his death. To Peter and his successors were entrusted the fullness of feeding the lambs and sheep of the Lord Jesus; John, or the Beloved Disciple, had to take a lower place in the eyes of his community.
The Beloved Disciple had been well liked in his community and the thought of looking to another might have been difficult, as it would probably have been for us, but look to Peter they must. Apparently they did make the transition because they passed on to us the story of the transition.
Like that early Christian community, we look to Peter’s successor for the feeding and care of the Lords sheep and lambs.