Photo illustration by Phil Younk
Click on the photo for a printable PDF!
Listen for God’s call in your life
Based on the Gospel of John 1:35-42
A big leap in time. Last Sunday’s Gospel told of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child and Monday’s Gospel told of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
The readings for this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time tell of the importance of listening to God’s call in our lives. The First Reading is about the call young Samuel received from God and his obedience to that call. As an adult, he will go on to play a significant role in Israel’s history and will announce David as king of Israel.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, John the Baptist is standing and talking with two of his disciples, a fisherman named Andrew and a man whose name we don’t know. Suddenly, he stops talking, points to Jesus walking by and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Encouraged by John, Andrew and his friend follow Jesus.
Noticing that they are following him, Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” They ask him, “Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?” Jesus answers, “Come and you will see.”
They go to where Jesus is staying and spend many hours listening to him and asking him questions. In this short period of time, Andrew comes to know and love Jesus and recognizes him as the Messiah. Andrew then rushes to find his brother Simon and tells him, “We have found the Messiah.” He brings him to Jesus who says, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas – which is translated Peter.”
Andrew became the first of Jesus’ disciples. Later, he, Peter, James, and John become the first four apostles chosen by Jesus.
In this short reading from St. John’s Gospel, he gives us three titles for Jesus – Lamb of God, Rabbi, and Messiah – all confirming that Jesus is the Son of God and our Lord and Savior.
Although the titles indicate Jesus’ greatness and authority, his meeting with John and Andrew and the other disciple is quiet and humble. He simply walks by them. There is no fanfare or grand entrance, no intimidation or force, only a simple invitation and time spent in conversation. That is the way Jesus works.
We have all received a call from God, a call to salvation. Each day Jesus offers us an invitation to come and see the wonders of his love, and the wisdom and truth he has for us. As we spend time in prayer – one-on-one conversation with him – he wants to fill us with his grace and strength and reveal himself to us. Jesus waits for us. And, as followers of Jesus, we should always to be ready to invite others to “Come and you will see.”
