What Am I Looking For?

 

John 1: 35-42

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Verse 38, "What do you want?", is often translated, "What are  you looking for?" and, as such might resonate with us in these days in a more poignant way,  as death is hitting strangers, family and friends in frightening numbers. Are we looking for safety, meaning, or God's will?  Or something we can't put our finger on? The death of a friend or close acquaintance who a week ago was healthy, is scary.  Am I ready to leave this planet and enter eternal life?  Is "my house in order" in case the doorbell rings and the taxi to paradise is in the driveway? Or, if I am to linger here longer, how best can I use the time and my talents to better serve the Lord?

The Baptist invited Andrew and John to join him, which they did, and it was the beginning of a huge turn in their lives.  Today, Sunday, a day of rest an prayer, is the perfect time to accept the invitation of Jesus and ponder with him what he is asking of us.

Bro. Rene

P.S. This slice of bread was  prompted not only by the Gospel, but by the news of the death this morning of a Good Marist Brother, Br. Donald Nugent, from the Corona Virus.  He had not been ill prior to contracting the virus and after being hospitalized less than a week, went home peacefully.  May choirs of angels sing him to his rest..