1Sm 3:3b-10, 19/1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn 1:35-42
This upcoming Sunday’s readings are a reminder that our destination in life is heaven and the path to eternal life comes through Christ. Following the feasts of Epiphany where the Lord’s Incarnation is recognized by the world and Jesus’ Baptism where the Father and Spirit together declare the Presence of the Son in our midst, the Sunday readings remind us God calls and it is up to us to respond.
In the first reading, Samuel hears a voice calling. Thinking it was Eli, he responds. After going to Eli three times, Eli realizes it is the Lord calling Samuel and instructs him to respond to the Lord with these words: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” I cannot help but think of the words of Mary when the angel Gabriel calls her to be the Mother of God. Her answer to God’s invitation? “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38). As with Samuel and Mary, when God calls our response must be one of humility, docility, and openness.
John’s Gospel tells the story of John the Baptizer and two of his disciples. Seeing Christ, John tells his followers: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” “Rabbi, where are you staying?” they ask. So powerful is Christ’s presence that the two follow Jesus. “Come, and you will see,” is Jesus’ response. Following the Lord, they not only stayed with Him but as the day wore on, Andrew went to get his brother Simon Peter, telling him that they have found the Messiah (Anointed One).
Can you imagine what it must be like to be in the presence of Christ? What if we saw Him walking down the street? Would we drop everything and follow Him? Would we go and find others so they, too, could come to know Jesus?
That is our call as disciples—to respond to the call of the Lord to “Come and follow.” Once we discover the Jesus in our midst and encountering him in a personal way, we proclaim Him as our Messiah—the one who will save us. Filled with faith, we bring others to Him so that they, too, can receive the gift of eternal life. That is evangelization.
We may think, “If only we lived when Jesus lived, then we could know Him too.” Thing is, we can know Him more intimately than the disciples who only saw the physical presence, observed His work, and heard His Words. We not only know Christ through the Living Word of God (Scripture), we also have witness of his miraculous works through the Gospels and also through the works carried out by those saints and holy ones who believe. Additionally, we receive Him Body, Mind, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. His Divine Presence courses through us. His Being becomes one with our being. He lives in us as we live in him.
Believing this, our every action should reflect the sacredness of this relationship. Hence the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians take on new meaning. Through our baptism we are the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, sacred vessels, walking tabernacles, and efficacious signs of Christ in this world. What would our culture look like if we recognized the sacredness of our own being and saw others as signs of Christ in this world as well? Does our presence call others to Christ? Do we respond to the cries of the poor out of compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love because in them we see Christ? Every part of the Body reminds us of Christ!
I had the privilege of meeting Blessed John Paul II during a visit to the Vatican in 2001. Sitting in a large hall, I vividly remember the door sliding open and him stepping into the room. It was as if energy emanated from him that reached into each and every one of us. I was in awe; our hearts were stirred. My daughter, who was with me, was in tears. There was no doubt—we were in the presence of one who was holy. I never met Mother Teresa, but my guess is that she had the same effect. Holy people draw us because we are intrigued. We follow because we are curious and we believe because we come to know the One who drives their actions. Because they have given their life to Christ we, who are called to know the Lord intimately as well, respond to the call to do the same.
May we respond with an open and heartfelt ‘yes’ when we hear His call, giving all we have to Christ! Amen!
Judy and I spoke earlier this week after Mass when this gospel was read, and I wanted to add the comment that it wasn't until the fourth time Samuel was called, and AFTER the Lord revealed himself to Samuel, that Samuel knew the Lord. We must be thankful for our faith, which has come to use through grace, and we must try to stay open to it.
ReplyDeleteLisa