Thoughts from Preachers on 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
/Thoughts from Preachers on 2 Sunday B 2006, through “First Impressions 2006”:
2ND. SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B) JANUARY 15, 2006
I Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19 Ps. 40: 2-4, 7-10 I Cor. 6: 13c-15a, 17-20 John 1: 35-42
I like Ordinary Time in the church liturgical calendar. It gives me a time to catch my breath and to grow, letting the words of Scripture take root and flourish. In reflecting on the readings for this weekend, I found some confirmation in these initial thoughts.
In the Gospel, two of Jesus’s disciples, one of whom was Andrew, are invited by Jesus to “Come and you will see”. They stayed with Jesus the entire day. What a gift! Andrew used his gift immediately and ran to find his brother, Simon, and brought him to Jesus. We all know the results of what happened to Peter! Rather effective evangelization.
Andrew realized the value in what Jesus said and Who He was: the Messiah, the Christ. All it took was one day to catapult him into action! Sometimes I think of all the times I have been on retreat or have immersed myself in similar thinking and I wonder??? Do I have a clear picture of Jesus being the Messiah? Have I REALLY internalized the impact of the line from 1 Corinithians that “You have been purchased for a price.” I wonder ? Ordinary time will help that become more a part of who I am and what I do, if I continue to spend that time with Jesus in prayer daily, consistently and deliberately.
Since I am still in wondering mode, I wonder how long it will take for me to jump into action? I am in process of making resolutions that require specific planning , not just hopes. Is it the time of year to get with the program, whatever the program is, and DO something? I hope that like Samuel, I have been listening. Maybe I need to listen a little more before I spring into action. I’ll have some time to do that as I recuperate from a minor illness this week at least. I’ll have more time as I check in with friends, co-workers at the college, and my community to plan “God-things” together. Maybe, like Samuel, I have to grow before all of my words will take effect, as did Samuel’s. Maybe that growing is fully realizing that such words are the Words of the Lord, not mine in the first place.
Ordinary Time will allow me to plan and reflect effectively on how to be part of the Lord’s Plans at this time in my life. I hope an integral part of my growing is continuing to read reflections from others on the Scriptures so that my personal perspectives can be enlarged. Who knows if something that someone says within these opportunities to share ideas might not be THE words that help to move important plans into effective actions? Psalm 40: 9 – 10 says: “I announced your justice in the vast assembly. I did not restrain my lips as you, Oh Lord, know.” May we all take these words of Scripture to heart, to proclaim the Good News in the vast assembly or for the audiences that we may have in our daily life.
-- Blessings,
Lanie LeBlanc OP
Dominican Laity
lanieleblanc@mindspring.com
January 15, 2006
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
John 1:35-42
Background:
John’s gospel is unique in a number of ways. Sometimes we are tempted to pass by those details that are different than we remember from the other gospels. However, often those unique details can lead to some new insights into the person of Jesus and also how God may be working in our life too. For example, this passage would suggest that Jesus changed the name of Simon to Cephas as soon as he accepted him as a disciple. In other gospels Jesus seems to change his name after he has been a disciple for some time. (John 1:12) Another thing that is different is the fact that here Andrew tells his brother, Peter, that “we have found the Messiah” from the beginning. The other gospels give the impression that Jesus being the Messiah is something that Peter has been wrestling with for some time and only gradually came to believe. Because of Peter’s insight and having the courage to say it out loud, Jesus seems to recognize him as the future leader of his disciples.
“When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’” (Matthew 16:13-19)
Rather than worry about which might be correct, or how they both might be accurate, we might find it more profitable to ask why John has chosen to describe Jesus’ relationship with Peter in this way. What is John trying to tell us about Jesus, Peter, discipleship, etc? What is the gospel trying to tell us about OUR relationship to Jesus?
Reflection Questions:
1. 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?
2. 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?
3. 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?
4. 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?
5. 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?
Paul Gallagher, OFM
Young Adult Ministry - Spiritual Direction
St. Peter Church
110 West Madison
Chicago, IL 60602
312-853-2339
pauljg@mindspring.com
2nd Sunday Ordinary Time, January 15, 2005 Volume 2
The preparation workbook that our parish uses for the Sunday readings has a side note for the Gospel that suggests that the reader “pause after the time reference to mark the shift to Andrew’s spreading the news to his brother” (LTP) Certainly, that is a good suggestion for the reader in order to produce an effective proclamation but I also thought how nice it would be for us to have those pauses inserted into our lives so that we might better be able to recognize the shifts of life! But life seldom gives a pause for us to notice and we most often look up, at some point, and realize that things have changed but don’t know how or when we got there.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a John the Baptist on the scene to point out the presence of Jesus when he breaks into our hurried daily lives? How nice it would be to be able to follow the presence of Jesus and remain with him in order to get our fill and absorb his presence in a way we never dreamed possible. How much easier it would be for each of us to go tell others about Jesus and spread the Good News if we had the same opportunity they did. But the reality is that will never happen. It simply is not possible and so we have to put up with our life “as is” and continue to go with the flow while praying that some day, just some day, we will understand enough in order to start living the life God wants us to.
Have I got your attention?! I’ve been interviewing some new EMHC volunteers to help at the hospital where I work and am surprised how many of them do not recognize that God has called them; “I’m just responding to the article in my parish bulletin” is what I’ve heard often. I’ve gotten some pretty strange looks when I suggest they pray about this call and this is from people who are trained to serve in this capacity at their parish. They tell me a story about how being an EMHC in the hospital has been something they have thought about numerous times and it had recently surfaced again, and then they read the bulletin article. I’ve heard, “something was missing in my life and then I read the article” or “I would never had thought about it on my own.” Of course, the rest of what they share with me shows a pattern of God’s continual call and so I’m going to hire them even if they don’t recognize it is God calling! I’m convinced that the ministry they offer will open their eyes to God’s action and help them recognize it for what it is. When they look back on the experience they will recognize that this is where the “pause” should have been inserted in order to highlight the shift!
Our readings make it clear that God calls us where we are and most times does not insert a pause for us to take notice that something very powerful is happening. Samuel and Eli were simply living life when God called. Samuel’s life was dedicated to God, he lived in the temple and yet he missed, at first, God calling. He too, needed a pause inserted to make the shift. Even Eli, the seasoned veteran, initially misses the pause button! God called, and called, and called AND THEN finally got a response. How typical that is of humans and yet how untypical that they actually heard God calling and understood it as a call after the third attempt; I would guess that the “average” Christian needs more than three calls before she/he gets “it” in our busy day.
The two disciples at the beginning of today’s Gospel were with John but their focus was not where his was. The Gospel states that “as he (John) watched Jesus walk by…” John was aware of what was going on and pressed the pause button for these two disciples who were living life; otherwise they may have missed the “Lamb of God.” He highlighted for them that something special was happening and invited them to take notice; how great for them to have someone like John to point it out. They, too, are called out of their ordinary life into a very extraordinary encounter with God. Were they expecting it to happen on that particular day? Probably not! Did they respond correctly when asked by Jesus “What are you looking for?” Not exactly; they stuttered a bit and then blurted out “where are you staying?!” But Jesus does not disqualify them as disciples because they don’t know what they are looking for. Even though they don’t realize what they are being called to does not stop Jesus from revealing himself to them. They probably didn’t even notice when the transition from being Johns’ disciples to being disciples of the “Lamb” occurred; and neither can we tell by reading this passage.
The same is true for our lives—God calls us out of ordinary life to be his witnesses and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Even if we don’t recognize it as a call, Jesus continues to work in our lives and continues to reveal “where he is staying.” No one is going to hit the pause button in order for us to take note of the shift that has occurred (or is occurring); it just happens as a part of life and sooner or later we take notice. Our goal, and the challenge of the Scriptures, is to get more in tune with the call of God each day. By becoming more attentive to God’s call in our lives we are able to recognize it earlier on and therefore better able to make use of the gifts given to us. As our insight to God’s goodness, which is alive and well every day of our lives, increases we become better disciples because we are able to more quickly point out who Jesus is to others. And, maybe more importantly than pointing out the “who”—we are better able to point out the “where” of Jesus’ and how he is breaking into our ordinary lives with salvation for all.
Peace,
Wayne
Deacon Wayne Charlton
deaconwc@med.umich.edu
“Come and See.”
Some years ago, a young English trainee journalist was invited to have the experience of going on the campaign of an American Presidential candidate. Like most trainee journalists, he had little respect for politicians. He saw them as vain, boastful, proud men and women, with few principles – sometimes corrupt, often complaisant, always deceitful. But he thought it would be good experience anyway, so he went. And, straightaway, his prejudices were confirmed. At every stop, every pause, even the slightest opportunity, the Candidate would rush around shaking hands, kissing babies, making grandiose speeches condemning his opponent with childish names and making unrealistic promises.
But, after about a month, he said, something suddenly clicked and he saw the whole thing in a new way. The Candidate and his Team were quite genuine in their belief that the country needed the kind of government they wanted to offer. They were genuine in their commitment to the good of the Nation. They even had respect for their opponent and knew that he too was genuinely doing his best for the country according to his own beliefs. And he saw no corruption whatever-- everyone from the Candidate, through the advisors, the canvassers and the countless other party workers could have earned more money, worked shorter hours, had more sleep and lower blood pressures by doing other things. Genuinely, each and every one of them was working for the good of the Nation according to his own lights. Eventually, three days before the Election, everyone from the Candidate downwards realized that he was going to lose. And the cynical political reporter found himself weeping like a child for the first time in fifteen years.
We too live in cynical times, almost as cynical as first century Palestine, when as far as we can gather almost all the public institutions were appallingly corrupt by any reasonable standard. And the motives we are willing to ascribe to other people actually tell us much more about the motives that are operating inside ourselves. And the only cure for cynicism is the deep personal encounter with the goodness of God manifest in Christ Jesus. “Come and See.”
Let us stand and profess our Faith in God from whom all Good things come.
Fr. Paul O'Reilly, SJ <fatbaldnproud@yahoo.co.uk>
The Gospel according to Aesop
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
John 135-42
The Farmer and his Sons
A rich old farmer, who felt that he had not many more days to live, called his sons to his bedside.
“My sons,” he said, “heed what I have to say to you. Do not on any account part with the estate that has belonged to our family for so many generations. Somewhere on it is hidden a rich treasure. I do not know the exact spot, but it is there, and you will surely find it. Spare no energy and leave no spot unturned in your search.”
The father died, and no sooner was he in his grave than the sons set to work digging with all their might, turning up every foot of ground with their spades, and going over the whole farm two or three times.
No hidden gold did they find; but at harvest time when they had settled their accounts and had pocketed a rich profit far greater than that of any of their neighbors, they understood that the treasure their father had told them about was the wealth of a bountiful crop, and that in their industry had they found the treasure.
Industry is itself a treasure.
The example of the disciples reminds us to spare no energy and to leave no stone unturned both in our search for Christ and in our efforts to stay with Him our whole life long. To seek the Lord is, in a sense, to have already found Him. Our journey to Him, our discovery of His place in our lives is itself a treasure.
Rev. Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B.
Saint Martin Parish
5684 Route 982
New Derry, PA 15671-1008
724-694-5716 voice/fax
Emailmartinrbartel@yahoo.com
http//home.catholicweb.com/saintmartin
