St. Rita of Cascia, religious 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31

Upon our arrival in Rome,

The captain turned the prisoners over to the military governor but permitted Paul to lodge in a private house with the soldier who guarded him.  After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them: “Brothers, though I have not done anything against our people or against the traditions of our fathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 

They examined me and wanted to set me free, for they saw nothing in my case that deserved death. But the Jews objected, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar without the least intention of bringing any case against my own people. Therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I bear these chains.”

 Paul stayed for two whole years in a house he himself rented, where he received without any hindrance all those who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught the truth about Jesus Christ, the Lord, quite openly and without any hindrance.

 

Ps 11:4, 5, 7

The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

John 21:20-25

 Peter looked back and saw that the disciple Jesus loved was follow­ing as well, the one who had reclined close to Jesus at the supper and had asked him, “Lord, who is to betray you?”   On seeing him Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”   Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I come, is that any concetn of yous? Follow me.”

 Because of this the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not say to Peter “He will not die,” but “sup­pose I want him to remain until I come back, what concern is that of yours?

 It is this disciple who testifies about the things and has written these things down, and we know that his testimony is true.  But Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, I think the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

 

Gospel Reflection：

We are now at the conclusion of John’s book. The author clearly affirms three things, that is, Peter is the acknowledged leader of the group. Secondly the myth that he, the beloved disciple will not die until the Lord comes again in His glory is nothing but a myth. And thirdly, there are many things not written in the New Testament.

Where did these unwritten truths from the Lord do? They continue in the living tradition of the Church. That is why new found sects have it wrong. They argue from the Bible as if everything Jesus did and preached is written there. Since they cannot access the tradition of the Church without going back to the Universal Catholic Church, they downplay this truth.

They cover it with their invented never-ending attacks that have been brilliantly defended since the middle ages. Let it be firmly set in our minds that not all the things that Jesus said and done are written in the Bible. We have access to them in the tradition of the Church handed down through the years.