Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 17, 2021

/

Gospel: John 1:35–42

Theme: Come and see where Jesus lives

John 1:35–42

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Music Meditations

Opening Prayer

Not to the wise and powerful of this world, O God of all blessedness, but to those who are poor in spirit
do you reveal in Jesus the righteousness of your kingdom.
Gathered here, like the disciples on the shore, we long to listen as Jesus, the teacher, speaks.
By the power of his word, refashion our lives in the pattern of the beatitudes.
We ask this through your son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions”, a preaching service of the Southern Dominican Province, 2015

John the evangelist introduced the Baptist very early in his gospel. “There was a man named John sent by God, who came as a witness to testify to the light, so that through him all people might believe…” (1:6). Today the Baptist is fulfilling his mission as he points his disciples in Jesus’ direction, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” I wonder what went through the minds of John’s disciples when they heard him refer to Jesus, who was passing by—“Behold, the Lamb of God”? They knew from their tradition that the lamb was slaughtered in the Temple and was sent into the wilderness after having been loaded with the sins of the community that had raised it. The lamb is also a reference to the book of Exodus which recalls the Passover lamb (Ex. 12) and the ritual that celebrated the Israelites’ liberation from the Egyptians. The lamb was sacrificed and saved the people from the Angel of death—as Jesus will do on the cross. It will be consumed at the Passover meal—as the body of Jesus will be offered to his disciples at the Last Supper. The book of Revelation also presents the victorious lamb.

So, if the two disciples choose to follow the one the Baptist is pointing out and naming “the Lamb of God,” they are already receiving hints of the difficulties that lie ahead and also the ultimate victory they will have in choosing to “stay” with Jesus. Jesus’ invitation to the disciples, “Come and you will see,” was a promise and would be a life-changing event for them. Andrew and the other disciple, traditionally thought to be John, first made tentative steps towards Jesus. They follow him for a while until Jesus turns and asks them, “What you looking for?” Jesus doesn’t waste time, he gets to the core of the issue. He doesn’t ask, “Who are you?” “What are your names?” But, “What are you looking for?” The disciples’ response to Jesus’ question begins with the title “Rabbi,” which John tells us means “Teacher.” The disciples ask where Jesus is “staying” and, implied in their question, is the desire for the life Jesus will teach and share with them.

Jesus’ question is put to us. “What are you looking for?” He is asking a root question, getting us to focus on the core of our lives. What are our priorities? Where did we get them? Are they based on Jesus and his teaching? If so, how do they affect the course of our lives? Do our daily choices reflect the one we have chosen to follow? Following Jesus takes a lifetime of listening, learning, acting and, when necessary, repenting. This period of learning may be what John is suggesting when Jesus invites the searchers to, “Come and you will see.” They go with the Teacher and stay with him. In the synoptic Gospels Jesus goes in search of disciples. In John the disciples search for Jesus. So where’s the truth? It’s in both descriptions. At times and in different circumstances, we hear Jesus’ call to follow him. It might be a fundamental call to change the direction of our lives. Or, the invitation may be to respond in a specific way to something we must do today. At other times, like the disciples, we experience a longing or hunger for God and so we go searching. (This longing is expressed in Psalms like 63 and 42.) We may decide to talk with someone we know to be wise concerning our restlessness. Or, we pick up a book that has been recommended to us. Perhaps we go on a retreat, or take long walks to mull things over. At these times we join the disciples who asked Jesus, “Rabbi… where are you staying?” In one form or another our longing and searching result in our choosing to spend more time with Jesus so we can learn where he “stays.” When the two searchers ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” the word John uses for staying (“menein”) is the same word he uses in chapter 15 in the parable of the vine and the branches. There Jesus promises that those who “stay,” or “remain” in him will have the indwelling of Jesus and his Father. John’s gospel has deeper layers than the mere physical meaning of the words. When Jesus responds to the Baptist’s disciples, “Come and you will see,” he is not speaking of the house where he lives. He is inviting them to come to experience him on a deeper level—to discover where he has life with God.

We tend to remember special moments by recalling the date and the time they happen. John tells us, “It was about four in the afternoon,” when the disciples received their invitation from Jesus. I wonder how many times Andrew and John repeated the story of their first encounter with Christ and concluded their witness with, “It was about four in the afternoon”? We don’t need to know the time of the day the call happened. But for Andrew and John that moment was very important because it began the journey that would forever change their lives. By giving us the time they were invited to go and stay with Jesus and so the gospel is underlining the importance of that moment for the disciples. The evangelist also seems to be suggesting the importance of the call each of us has received. It may not have been at a particular moment but, even if we experienced the call spread out over our lifetime, the invitation to go with Christ and “stay” with him has been, or should be, life-altering.

The reader of John’s Gospel will note there is no scene when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. The Synoptics narrate Jesus’ baptism replete with the skies opening; the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove; the voice from heaven declaring Jesus to be, “My beloved Son.” But, in John’s Gospel, what we have is the Baptist testifying to Jesus’ identity. There aren’t any special signs or wonders to back up his testimony. Jesus passes by and John points him out to his disciples. That’s it. They trust John to be a reliable witness and they accept his testimony about Jesus. It’s as simple as that: a reliable person, without visible proofs, testifies to what he has seen and heard. Those who trust him take him at his word and change their lives accordingly. Parents want their children to believe in Jesus and practice their faith. We want our friends and those we know to share our faith and receive the life it gives us. The church is a community of Jesus’ disciples who have “stayed” with and have “seen” where he lives. Our responsibility, as individuals and as a church called to follow Jesus, is to invite others to “Come and you will see.” People will come to know Jesus through our witness and testimony about him. There will be no special signs from heaven to back up what we say but if, like John the Baptist, our life has integrity and shows signs that the Spirit has been breathed upon us, then our often fragile testimony will be more than enough to attract others to “Come and see.”

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Come, and you will see.

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

  • Are you searching for something? What are the deepest longings of your heart?
    Have you looked for answers in another person, in a life event, or a sudden epiphany?
    What, exactly are you searching for: (answers to a big life question, love, purpose, happiness, money, for example)?
    Or are you not looking for anything new in your life at this time?
  • Has there been a teacher in your life who really inspired you to look for something new and different?
    Did you have a personal relationship to this person?
    Was it scary or exhilarating?
    Have you ever been influenced by someone else’s willingness to try something new or to change your mind about something?
  • How would you respond, if instead of really answering a question, a person invited you to “come and see”?
    Are there rewards in this leap into to unknown?
    Are there dangers?
  • Is it important to you to be a seeker at all times in your life?
    What are you waiting for?
  • When was the first time in your life you felt drawn to get to know Jesus better?
    Do you feel that you know Him now?
  • We don’t know if Andrew ever preached or led a group; but he changed the course of Jesus’ mission.
    Notice that Peter was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew, after Andrew had stayed quite a while to learn something about Jesus
    Do I know of anyone whom I might take to meet Jesus?
    Have I ever brought someone to the Church, to Jesus, to a better life?
    Do I realize how important this is?
  • Where is Jesus? Where do I think He stays? Can He be found in my life?
  • What new name might Jesus give you? Why?

  • Adapted from Paul Gallagher, OFM (Young Adult Ministry—Spiritual Direction, St. Peter Church, Chicago):

    Do you know the story behind how you were named? Do you have a nickname and how did you get it? Do you have a nickname that is not known to everyone? How is the name an expression of your relationship to the person who gave it to you, to the people who use it? What name might Jesus give you right now?

    If you were Simon, what would you be thinking when you meet Jesus and he says that you are going to be called Peter/Cephas?

    What do you think the two disciples of John the Baptist were thinking when they heard him say “Behold the Lamb of God?” Just from how they are described here, what kind of men do you think they were? What do they say to you by the fact that they are willing to abandon John and the rest of his disciples in order to go to Jesus?

    If Jesus would ask you what are you looking for, what would you say? Are you looking? Where are you looking? What behaviors would point to the fact that you are really looking?

    Is the pattern of John the Baptist, Andrew and Peter in the gospel present in how you have been led at times in your relationship with God? Is it true now? Could it be how God would like to work in your life now: to lead you to a more intimate relationship with God? Are you looking?

  • From Barbara Reid, O.P. (Professor of Scripture, Dean at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago):
    Who was instrumental in bringing you to Jesus? Pray in thanksgiving for them.
    Whom do you bring to Jesus?
    Give thanks for your body, through which you glorify God.
  • From Jude Siciliano, O.P.:
    How do I include God in my daily decisions?
    When I must make an important decision, how much time do I give to prayer?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Franciscan Style/Action:

Adapted from Justice Notes in “First Impressions”, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:

”Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” —1 Samuel 3:3b-10

Our country will shortly have a new president and vice-president, and national, state and local officials will begin the job of leading our country, which has been so richly blessed, and which is facing unparalleled problems. We hope that Samuel’s words in today’s first reading will be the constantly repeated prayer of all who are elected to public office. Our own prayers and participation on behalf of the common good are also essential.

Prayer for President-elect Joe Biden and all Newly Elected Officials:
“Let us pray today for our nation and for President-elect Joe Biden as he prepares to assume the monumental task of leading this great country. We ask God our Father to bless him in this historic moment in our nation’s history. And we give thanks and rejoice with all Americans in the significance of the election of the first female and African-American vice-president. May the Holy Spirit guide President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris and all of our nation’s new leaders with wisdom, compassion, fortitude and a profound commitment for the dignity and sanctity of all human life. We pray that these new leaders will use the powers of their office to defend the most vulnerable among us. And, may our Heavenly Father help all of us to put aside our differences, heal divisions and work together for the good of all people. Amen.”

What can I do?

  1. Pray daily for our new president and for all public officials. (Cut out the prayer above and use it regularly.)
  2. Pick one policy initiative you want to work for in the next four years, and make a plan for being ACTIVE in making positive change happen.
  3. Be active in working for local and national policies which “build a world of peace, solidarity and justice”.
A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Read this poem from an unknown classmate in a graduate course on John, and imagine that Jesus is speaking these words to you:

In the beginning was the Word.
A Word who must be spoken.
A Word spoken into skies.
and called into hills.
Spoken into rivers and fields
A Word Spoken into life
in flowers
in birds
and in every kind of animal.
A Word spoken with love and breathed into
the heart of man and woman
that they might be ready to hear.
And when the time came that all was in readiness,
The Word was spoken into flesh,
spoken to call his own
out of the darkness and into the light.
To those who would know this Word, he beckoned
and still is beckoning—now—to you.
Come, see where I live;
spend your time with me
Be my own,
Be disciple.
Is the question of the first who followed your question still:
Teacher, where do you live in my world?
The answer they heard is the same,
which, in silence you will know:
Come, I will take you there.
I live within your heart.
Your heart that I have seen,
Your heart that I have known
I live there, calling you beyond yourself
Calling you into my own life,
Calling you to the vision of my Father
Calling you to be fishers of people.
Calling you to be disciple.
Poetic Reflection:

from Fr. Michael Kennedy, in “First Impressions” 2006:

“Suddenly It All Makes Sense”

(2nd Sunday Ordinary Time)

Sometime we
Should use the Gospel of
This day to remind ourselves
And others that the fourth
Gospel has the call of Peter
Happening in simple human
Interaction and not from
A trumpet blast or a
Quick appearance of
Gabriel or Raphael
Or even Michael
And we sometimes
Forget that Jesus did not
Just want missionaries since He
Did not just say go and preach and
Baptize to the ends of the earth for
He also said come and be with Me
And let your eyes and hearts be
Opened and this part of the call
To discipleship is every bit as
Important as preaching and
Teaching and baptizing for
Without hospitality the
Message is as phony as
Any contemporary
Promise to solve
Issues of justice
Sometime
Or not
****
And we must
Never forget that it was
The call to come and see that
Got Peter to commit and amazingly
It is what gets us today too for
When we experience the joy of
Feeling at home it is still true
That suddenly it all
Makes sense

— from “Musings from Michael” © Michael J. Kennedy 2006

Closing Prayer

Dear Jesus, we have heard your call and it compels us to follow. Bless me with a clear sense of my call. Make me sensive to the action of your spirit. Give me wisdom and courage to act on your call on behalf of the people or situations I encounter [Pause to call to mind the issues you want to pray about]. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see.