{"id":9510,"date":"2026-05-22T08:51:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9510"},"modified":"2026-05-22T08:51:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:51:59","slug":"lordwhat-about-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9510","title":{"rendered":"Lord,what about him?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0St Peter had the most important conversation of his life with Jesus. He received his definitive mission and was told that he would become a martyr. He understood it. But the Apostle John was also nearby. They had been good friends at work and in the company of Jesus. So it was only natural that he was interested in his fate, too. What would become of him? Taking an interest in others strengthens friendships and families, but it must be sincere and an expression of love.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is an interest we call “gossip-gathering”: the desire to learn what others have failed to do, their mistakes, or at least what they would like to keep secret. However, we prefer to see such \u201cinterested people\u201d far behind the door. On the contrary, it is very pleasing to be asked such a question: \u201cHow did your work go today?\u201d “Do you still need many days to finish? \u201d etc. Newspapers, radio, and screens arouse interest in many things in the world, both useful and useless. However, it must not take such a place in the family that we lose interest in those we live with<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does it matter to you?<\/span> \u25aa When someone shows an interest that is unpleasant to us, we respond with a rude expression: \u201cWhat does that have to do with you? \u201d Of course, it can be expressed more gently. But the premise is the same: we have the right to our private secrets; the interest of others is disturbing. God also has his secrets, especially when it comes to people’s future destinies. The interest here disturbs not him, but us. We read about St. Anthony the Hermit, who supported, loved,\u00a0and, in solitude, often thought\u00a0about how many people would be saved and how many would perish. In response, he heard a voice from God: \u201cAnthony, take care of yourself!\u201d Unnecessary interest in others distracts us from what we should be concerned with: ourselves. But which interests are useful and which are useless? Scouts have a rule that they should be curious. It sounds wrong to say that someone is curious. To distinguish between them, we can apply the rule that applies to every conversation: the good one supports love and trust; the bad one destroys it. Sometimes it is a wonderful sign of trust not to ask. Even God demands this trust from people without asking when it comes to his providence.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I want him to stay until I arrive. Jesus’ answer is quite mysterious. After all, the apostles present misunderstood it. However, it is better to say that it is general than ‘mysterious.’ It expresses the truth that we believe in. The death of a person is never accidental. In images depicting the death of the Virgin Mary, Christ comes down from heaven to receive his mother’s soul. But this is also true of the death of all the righteous. Their souls are in the hands of God (cf. Wisdom 3:1). Christ, who saves souls, always arrives at the right moment to take them. This is why the saints were not afraid of death. St. Sabbas of Jerusalem was warned not to return to the monastery through the desert in the evening because a lion was loose. His answer was simple: ‘Either God exists, and a lion cannot harm me, or God does not exist, and it is better for a lion to eat me. ‘ Faith cannot justify gambling with life, but it provides peace and certainty in times of danger.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

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