The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on our experiences of finding love when we respond positively to invitations from the Spirit.
The reading from the First Letter of John urges us to avoid sin and love or brothers and sisters.
* [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 | USCCB, 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John introduces 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that these brief early encounters are infleshments by the Incarnate Word, resulting in becoming real themselves. This birthing of Jesus is also the rebirthing of all who allow themselves to be met in their flesh.
Mary of Nazareth met herself through the visit of an angel. We have celebrated the shepherds encountering the Flesh of Jesus. Sunday, we will visit Jesus with the Magi as they sensibly find Jesus and are changed by the meeting. He became flesh that we might live more acceptingly with our flesh, as did Mary, Andrew, Peter, Nathanael, Magi. We take our places in those who have seen Him and His seeing us, and giving His Sacred Flesh to us. In our emptiness, as with Mary’s womb, as with the shepherds, Magi, early followers, we change from mere sense evidence to spirit, to belief, of course with some scoffing. He takes flesh again in the Eucharist and invites us to offer our flesh to become new Incarnations. (Gillick, 2025)
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 notices that when John entered this new phase of his life, he didn’t come to a full stop. He continued to baptize people, only now he was sending them to Jesus (John 3:23). He continued to call Herod to repentance (Matthew 14:3-5). And even after he was arrested, he kept pointing people to the Lord so they would encounter him for themselves (11:2-6).
John is a clear example that God is never done with us. He always has a mission for us, even as one chapter of our lives comes to an end and another one begins. Maybe he is calling you to greater involvement in your parish. Or maybe he’s sending you into the community to care for the poor and suffering. Or maybe he is asking you to take on the hidden role of an intercessor. The possibilities are as endless as his love is. Every day, no matter your state in life, Jesus stands before you and says, “Here we are, you and I; let me show you the mission I have for you today.”
“Thank you, Lord, that I can serve you right here, right now!” (Meditation on John 1:35-42, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the dualism of 1 John continues in the passage today. There are times when we are faced with a fundamental choice between charity and compassion or not. Friar Jude reminds us of the translation of some Aramaic and Greek words that declare Jesus as the Servant of God and serve the theme in the Gospel of John that contrasts the deep love of the beloved disciple with the “rock” of Peter as the “head”.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Pastor Rich Villodas who reminds us that anything we do on behalf of others must be done from a place of humility and love, not for the sake of our own egos.
We work for justice not because it justifies us; rather, because we’ve been justified, we work for justice. We are called to work with urgency, knowing that the needs are great, and also with patience, convinced that God is near. We pour ourselves out in love because this is how Christ longs to live through us, but we recognize our limitations. We seek the peace of our cities and towns because we are called to be salt and light, and we confess that only Jesus will make all things new.
To have a good, beautiful, and kind life—one formed by love—requires us to extend our faith beyond the borders of our private emotional and spiritual concerns. We are called into a larger story, one characterized by participation in God’s kingdom. It’s the kind of participation that drives out passivity.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he instructed them to say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Is that not love? Is that not justice? To pray these words is not to passively say, “Lord, there’s nothing we can do, so please fix this world.” Rather, the Lord’s Prayer calls us to say, “Lord, there’s so much we can do, but only ever in your power.” (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the invitation of Jesus “to come and see” as we seek the inspiration of the Spirit to continue our mission of love, truth, and compassion.
References
Gillick, L. (2025, January 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010425.htm
John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?35
Meditation on John 1:35-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/04/1171753/
1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3?
Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Being Salt and Light: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/being-salt-and-light-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). We Have Found the Messiah! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 4, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan4
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