St. Peter asked Jesus how St. John would die. Jesus replied that St. Peter should not concern himself with that. Often, we tend to compare our lives to others, whether to rationalize our level of devotion to Christ or to question God’s justice. Jesus responds to us as he did to St. Peter: “What is that to you? As for you, follow me.” Early church history reports that after St. John spent several years in exile on the island of Patmos, he returned to Ephesus where he died as an old man, towards the end of the first century. The purpose of St. John’s Gospel was to show that Jesus was the Son of God (20:31). The writer clearly and systematically presented the evidence for Jesus’ claims. When evidence is presented in the courtroom, those who hear it must make a choice. Those who read the Gospel of St. John must also make a choice – is Jesus the Son of God, or is he not? We are the jury. The evidence has been presented. We have to decide. During this season of Easter let us take the time to read St. John’s Gospel and believe!

Prayer: Abba Father, help me focus on my relationship with you rather than comparing it with others. Amen.