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Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the
one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had
said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw
him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him,
“What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of
yours? You follow me.” John 21:20–22
Just before today’s Gospel, Jesus foretold Peter’s martyrdom and
concluded by saying, “Follow me,” calling Peter to focus on his
mission of discipleship. Upon learning of his own fate, however,
Peter became curious about John’s: “Lord, what about him?” Jesus
gently redirects him: “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” Jesus’ words remind us
of a crucial truth: We must focus on our personal call to follow
Him rather than giving in to unhealthy curiosity.
Knowing and loving others as friends, listening to their joys and
struggles with charity, differs from idle curiosity. True knowledge
of someone builds selfless and loving relationships, giving us a
share in God’s relational nature. The Father knows and loves the
Son, and the Son knows and loves the Father, and from that love the
Holy Spirit proceeds. In contrast, idle curiosity—“knowing about”
someone for the wrong reasons—can lead to pride, judgment, or
distraction.
In and of itself, the desire for knowledge is neither good nor bad;
it is a natural inclination given to us by God. It becomes good
when it leads to a desire to know the truth, particularly about
God, Creation, and all matters that lead us to greater holiness.
Saint Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between curiosity, the
disordered pursuit of knowledge, and studiousness, a moral
virtue that directs our natural desire for knowledge toward good
and necessary ends. He describes studiousness as a form of
temperance for the mind—a habit that moderates and orders our
desire for knowledge so that it serves truth, virtue, and
ultimately, God’s glory.
The desire for knowledge becomes disordered when it serves no good
purpose, distracts us from our duties, or stems from pride, sensual
desire, or an unhealthy fascination with evil. It is also
disordered when worldly knowledge dominates our minds, drawing us
away from God and spiritual matters. For example, our world is
often flooded by shocking and sensational stories. Though there is
a value in news stories, they can distract us from our mission and
lead us into sin.
Adam and Eve’s fall resulted from pride and an unholy desire for
knowledge they did not need, as the fruit was “desirable for
gaining wisdom” (Genesis 3:6). Like Peter’s question about John,
their distraction led them away from trust in God’s plan. Jesus’
gentle correction reminds Peter—and us—of what truly matters.
Reflect today on the importance of getting to know others
and the danger of being overly curious to know about them.
There are many things we do not need to know; it takes temperance
of the mind to discipline ourselves so that we remain focused on
our God-given responsibilities. Intemperance of the mind, stemming
from pride, leads to gossip and judgment. Hence, we must
continuously hear Jesus remind us: “What concern is it of yours?
You follow me.”
All-knowing Lord, You know me through and through, my every
action, thought, and desire. You know my sin and my virtue, my
weaknesses and joys. Please give me a healthy desire to know You
and all that is necessary for me to fulfill Your will. Please also
purify my disordered curiosity so that I remain charitable to all
and undistracted from my mission. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Christ's Charge to Peter by George Baxter
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