The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to “Come and See” the nature of the unique relationship that Jesus has with us.
The reading from the First Letter of John warns us not to be deceived by Sin.
* [3:9] A habitual sinner is a child of the devil, while a child of God, who by definition is in fellowship with God, cannot sin. Seed: Christ or the Spirit who shares the nature of God with the Christian. (1 John, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
The Gospel of John describes the First Disciples of Jesus.
* [1:37] The two disciples: Andrew (Jn 1:40) and, traditionally, John, son of Zebedee (see note on Jn 13:23).
* [1:39] Four in the afternoon: literally, the tenth hour, from sunrise, in the Roman calculation of time. Some suggest that the next day, beginning at sunset, was the sabbath; they would have stayed with Jesus to avoid travel on it.
* [1:41] Messiah: the Hebrew word māśiâh, “anointed one” (see note on Lk 2:11), appears in Greek as the transliterated messias only here and in Jn 4:25. Elsewhere the Greek translation christos is used.
* [1:42] Simon, the son of John: in Mt 16:17, Simon is called Bariona, “son of Jonah,” a different tradition for the name of Simon’s father. Cephas: in Aramaic = the Rock; cf. Mt 16:18. Neither the Greek equivalent Petros nor, with one isolated exception, Cephas is attested as a personal name before Christian times. (John, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Chas Kestermeier, S.J asks “Do I follow the road others determine in a blind or superficial manner? Do I work towards a career or accumulating resources as if they were ends in themselves? Or is all that just part of a deeper search and quest?” This examination goes all the way down to the smallest of things. St. Ignatius Loyola speaks of "finding God in all things" (and by implication seeing "all things in God"), but it all comes down to segment #23 of his Spiritual Exercises, the “First Principle and Foundation.”
What we seek in the end is not principles, not a system, not even a little essential truth, but the Person of our God, Jesus Himself, who is so much more, who speaks to us, challenges us, calls us, and constantly heals us – something no principle, system, or truth can offer.
Considering all of this, I might ask myself the same things as Jesus does in terms of both today's first and second readings: “What do I seek?” “Is that enough?” “Who do I seek?” (Kestermeier, 2020)
"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction" – Pope Benedict XVI. pic.twitter.com/lHMdRrXghL
— Fr James Bradley (@FrJamesBradley) December 31, 2022
Don Schwager quotes “The first disciples longing for the Messiah,” by John Chrysostom (349-407 AD).
"Andrew, after having stayed with Jesus and after having learned what he did, did not keep the treasure to himself but hurries and races to his brother in order to let him know the good things Jesus has shared with him. But why hasn't John mentioned what they talked about? How do we know this is why they 'stayed with him'?... Observe what Andrew says to his brother, 'We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.' You see how, in a short time, he demonstrates not only the persuasiveness of the wise teacher but also his own longing that he had from the beginning. For this word, 'we have found,' is the expression of a soul that longs for his presence, looking for his coming from above, and is so ecstatic when what he is looking for happens that he hurries to tell others the good news. This is what brotherly affection, natural friendship, is all about when someone is eager to extend a hand to another when it comes to spiritual matters. Also see how he adds the article, for he does not say 'Messiah' but 'the Messiah.' They were expecting the Christ who would have nothing in common with the others." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 19.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 1:35-42 shares an invitation to develop a relationship with the Lord, just as Andrew and Simon Peter did. The invitation, though, is not reserved just for “first-timers.” It includes a call to deepen that relationship and to move close to Jesus.
Step-by-step, this journey takes place in your home, in your place of business, and in your ordinary daily tasks. As you come and see, Jesus will teach and guide you. Perhaps he will help you to see his love for you. Perhaps he will prompt you to repair a strained relationship. Or maybe he will spark a new idea about someone to pray for. The Lord has something new for you every morning. As we begin this new year, come, and you will see what it is.
“Jesus, I’m coming to you today. I want to see where you are today and what you are doing.” (Meditation on John 1:35-42, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explores the dualistic message of 1 John contrasting love and sin. A source for the Gospel of John may have followed the Baptist for a while before encountering Jesus. Friar Jude reminds us of the contrast between the Beloved Disciple and the “rock head” of Peter in the Gospel of John.
Dr. Barbara Holmes describes our natural resistance to prophets in our midst.
Prophets are leaders, but not leaders of their own choosing. Inevitably, they have some sort of divine encounter. A burning bush, a ram in the bush, a call in the night, visions, dreams. They’re quirky and more than a little weird. Take Jeremiah as an example, crying all the time. And Isaiah fasting and lying in the dirt, and John the Baptist eating locusts, and Huldah prophesying doom. Finally, one of the most important characteristics of prophets is that they are dangerous to the system.…
In bringing messages from God—and God doesn’t mince words—God speaks directly through them. They have a relationship and intimacy with the Divine. They communicate with God through prayer, direct speech; God walks and talks with them. Maybe not literally but in other ways. They have gifts, and they offer signs and wonders associated with the verification of the presence of God. They have communal connections. They act on behalf of community, not for their own gain, and are dependent on the community for help when they need it. (Holmes, n.d.)
We are all invited to live our Baptismal gifts as priest, prophet, and leader in the service of our community and through transformation of our individual essence.
References
Holmes, B. (n.d.). Prophets Belong in Community. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophets-belong-in-community-2023-01-04/
John, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?35
Kestermeier, C. (2020, January 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010420.html
Meditation on John 1:35-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/04/575119/
1 John, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?7
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). We Have Found the Messiah! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan4
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