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<v SPEAKER_00>Today in the gospel, Jesus gives us one of the hardest spiritual lessons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter turns around, sees John, and immediately asks, Lord, what about him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What about him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Three words.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And if we're honest, we ask them all the time, Lord, what about their life?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What about their marriage, their success, their ministry, their life, their health, their opportunities, their blessings, everything that they have, their path?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus gives one of the shortest and most powerful responses in Scripture.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What concern is it of yours?

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<v SPEAKER_00>You follow me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In other words, stop looking sideways.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Look at me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because comparison is one of the great thieves of the spiritual life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We do this all the time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It steals peace, it steals gratitude, it steals mission, it blinds us of our own calling.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter had just been told he would die a martyr.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus had already revealed that suffering awaited him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Peter immediately looks at John.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, what about him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, is he going to suffer too?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Will his path be easier?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Will his story be different?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Jesus says, That is not of your concern.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Your concern is that you follow me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What a word for our age, because we live in the age of comparison.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Everyone is looking sideways.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Social media, success, followers, money, things, what vacations we go on, titles.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even in spiritual life, why is their family doing better?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why is their parish growing?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why do they have these gifts and these blessings?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why is their cross lighter than mine?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Christ keeps saying, What concern is that of yours?

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<v SPEAKER_00>You follow me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because God writes different stories.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter receives a cross, John receives longevity, one dies crucified, the other one dies of old age.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Different missions, same holiness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then the first reading becomes extraordinary because we meet Paul in Rome.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Think about where his story began.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In Acts, it started with frightened apostles hiding in the upper room.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now it ends with Paul in the capital of the empire, proclaiming Christ openly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The gospel reaches Rome.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The mission moved forward.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And look at Paul, he's in chains, underground, restricted.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yet Scripture says with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wow, the irony.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Paul is chained, the gospel is not.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His body is bound, but the word is free.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The entire empire could limit his movement, but it could not stop his mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And maybe that's a final lesson before Pentecost.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Your circumstances do not determine your mission.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Paul had chains and still evangelized.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter had a cross and still followed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>John had waiting and still remained faithful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Different roads, same Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some people spend their whole lives saying, What about him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And they never lived their own vocation, never really truly embraced their own mission, never carry their own cross, never become the saint they were meant to become.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The saints stopped looking sideways.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They fixed their eyes on Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe today Jesus says that to all of us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Stop comparing, stop measuring, stop looking at everyone else.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Follow me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because at the end of life, God will not ask why you were not Peter or Paul or John.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He will ask, did you become the person I created you to be?

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<v SPEAKER_00>There will only be one of you for all eternity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Did you follow me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And if you can't answer yes to that, then that's everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the beauty of a relationship with the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't compare yourselves with anyone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Stop measuring.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Fix your eyes on Christ and follow him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.