Today's liturgy concludes the season of Easter with the story concerning Jesus' prediction of the destiny of two of Jesus' closest disciples, Peter and the Beloved Disciple. The paths of the two disciples have been entwined across the latter part of John's Gospel. One had remained with Jesus till the end, whereas the other had fled. Both had been 'following' Jesus, but their 'following' had been markedly different. Peter's question seeks to make a comparison between his own 'following' and that of the other disciple. But Jesus' reply to Peter's question seems to show that any sort of comparison is wrong, "If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me."

In other words, the command to follow Jesus is personal and must be accepted as such. It matters not whether one is to die or suffer martyrdom while another lives to a fruitful age, the one calling is to follow Jesus no matter where that following may lead the disciple. The Lord must be Lord, and the destiny of His disciples can be safely left in His hands. Just as the Lord's word to Peter ended with the injunction, "follow me", so must each Christian repeat that command to himself or herself, and embrace it for his or her own life and destiny. Discipleship is properly exercised only in a humble acceptance of whatever destiny the Lord has reserved for each disciple who loves Him.