Acts 28
Today, Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter, we read both endings of the Acts of the Apostles and St. John’s gospel, as we come close to the end of the Easter season. Tomorrow, Pentecost finishes the Easter season, and, then, we resume the Ordinary Time.
As we heard in the reading, the Acts of the Apostles does not tell us what happened eventually to St Paul in Rome. This ending almost seems truncated. The writer, St Luke, does not give us anything about St Paul’s martyrdom. What about St Peter? Did you notice that from a certain point in the Acts of the Apostles St Peter completely disappeared? After the Jerusalem council about the circumcision of the Gentiles, we don’t hear anything about St Peter. You may feel it is strange that St Luke does not mention the deaths of these two pillars of the Church.
The ending of St John’s gospel also sounds unfinished. Although there is a very brief epilogue, the ending is rather non-climatic. There is no catharsis. Simon Peter asks how the beloved disciple would die, and Jesus admonishes him. Instead of answering, Jesus says to St Peter, “Follow me!” It seems another beginning just like when Jesus called Peter to follow him when Jesus began his public ministry.
Perhaps we are so used to Hollywood movies. We expect story endings to give us answers. Almost indifferently, the Acts of the Apostles describes the continuation of St Paul’s evangelization during his house-rest. St Luke does not give a hint of what happened at the end of the two years of St Paul’s house-arrest. St Paul kept preaching Christ. At the end of St John’s gospel, once again St Peter follows Jesus.
I feel these endings realistic. Our life does not end until the end comes to us. There is always something coming up. When we think one thing is resolved, another problem arises. Our life is not a Hollywood story.
But more importantly, St Luke and St John imply that whatever we see in this life and this world cannot be the end or final – even death itself. They silently teach that we will know the true endings only at the resurrection of the dead. Until then, we continue to work for the glory of God. Until then, we can pray even for those who are already dead!
Saints lived for the Gospel. And saints died for the Gospel. This is why there are no Hollywood endings in the gospels. We cannot stop preaching Christ. For Christ are yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
