Commentary on the Gospel of
Gazing Sideways
Old habits die hard! The simmering competitiveness that the disciples had suffered from still refuses to die out in Peter. And with good reason! After all, here is John known to be the “favourite” of the Master, even if there is no truth in such perception. (“Daddy/Mommy always loved you more than me”—isn’t this one of the perennial complaints among siblings even into their adult days?) We all have a natural and often excessive curiosity to know what destiny awaits the other, and a secret wish that it be no better than ours! As we climb up the ladder, we often look back over the shoulders, not always to help out the one behind, but to ensure that he/she does not overtake us! Jesus nips Peter’s undue curiosity in the bud by an equivalent of “leave it to me; It’s none of your business.” Our call is to follow the Lord, period. Too much of lateral gaze can drown us, as it once happened to Peter on the waters.
