We frequently see Saints Peter and John together. During the Last Supper, Peter signals to John to ask Jesus about his betrayer. After His arrest they follow Jesus together to the High Priest's house. Today's Gospel tells of them together receiving Mary Magdalene's news of the empty tomb, and they both run together to the tomb. This companionship continues into the early days of the Church as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. One thing we notice is that John believes and understands more quickly than Peter, but he always defers to Peter, Thus, in today's reading he waits and lets Peter enter the tomb first.

Peter and John are both real historical people, but in these stories we may see a certain symbolism. Peter represents the hierarchical Church, while John represents the contemplative side of the Church. Each needs the other. Jesus chose Peter, not John, to be the head of the Apostles, yet it is John, not Peter, who is known as the Beloved Disciple. As Catholics we must be loyal to both Peter and John: we must reverence our hierarchical Church and at the same time strive to be beloved and contemplative disciples of Jesus.