Link to today's readings
1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 | Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 | 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20 | John 1:35-42
Click here to listen to this homily
Given by Deacon Paul Lewis at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang, OK on January 18, 2015
This past week, the Church began what might be described as the wearing of the green. The Christmas decorations are put away and the Church enters into this period we call Ordinary Time, at least for a few weeks until we begin Lent next month. The Gospel we will hear from most during this coming year is the Gospel of Mark. However, because it is the shortest Gospel, we will also be hearing from the Gospel of John on a few of these Sundays of Ordinary Time.
Today is one of those days. If we look back at our own life, we know where we were when we experienced significant moments. It was December 25, 1984, at about 7:30 in the morning when my wife and I first felt the kick of our oldest son. I know where I was and what time it was when my mom called to inform me of my grandfather’s death. I know the moment that I heard about planes slamming into the World Trade Center. We know these moments of our lives.
When we tell the stories, we recall what time of day and where we were when they happen. “It was about four in the afternoon.” These are words that often get overlooked in this Gospel reading. Perhaps it is seen as an insignificant detail.
Who are these two followers of John the Baptist? We know one is named Andrew who is the brother of Simon Peter. What about the other? It is understood by many scholars that this un-named disciple is the Evangelist himself, the disciple whom Jesus loved, John the Beloved Disciple.
It is from him that tradition tells us this Gospel was handed down in the late first century. And so John, just like us, is telling the story. “It was about four in the afternoon.” These are not insignificant words to be passed over. They mark that moment when John, and Andrew, ceased being followers of John the Baptist, and become disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s that moment in time when Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” They reply, “Where are you staying?” And Jesus answers, “Come and you will see.” Their lives will never be the same.
When we encounter the scriptures, sometimes we do so from a rather historical/critical viewpoint. We tend to want to intellectualize this encounter.
There is a place for that, and it is good to delve into that... at times! But Jesus waits for us to encounter him on a more personal level. This evangelist, John, wants us to experience what he has experienced. Jesus desires that we make this Gospel about ourselves.
And so, as people of faith, Jesus poses the same question to us. “What are you looking for?” What is it that we seek? Do we allow others to tell us what we are looking for? Too often, we allow political agendas, talk radio, surveys and news tell us what we should think or do rather than being fully engaged in our world directly. This is especially true when we look at political figures. It's easier to let so-called political commentators tell us what we should think, and who we should demonize.
As people of faith, faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to more. We might allow others to tell us what it means to encounter Jesus rather than pointing us to and opening the doors to the mystery of Jesus’ presence in our lives. We may find ourselves idolizing what others have, what they do, who they are, rather than discovering the unique ways God reveals himself in and through our own personal lives. It is what we might call secondhand faith. This kind of faith is not transformative. Second hand faith denies the freedom to encounter this Jesus who beckons us, "Come and you will see."
I can describe to you a beautiful sunset, tell you about the colors I have seen,
but to truly know what is being described, one has to be there and experience it themselves, firsthand. Would we rather hear a love story, or would we rather fall in love and live the love story? Would you rather know about Christ or know him? That’s the difference between a secondhand faith and a firsthand experience. We must choose whether we will be spectators of Jesus' life or participants in his life.
That was the choice John the Baptist set before his disciples. John “was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’” It was their moment of decision. Would they stay or would they go? Would they settle for a secondhand faith, information and facts about Jesus, or would they choose a firsthand experience of his life? If they choose a firsthand experience they will have to leave John behind. They will have to let go of that which is familiar, comfortable, and known. The will have to open themselves to something new and something different.
Looking back on our lives, we can probably remember times like that. It can be difficult to let go of a secondhand faith and life. It usually means there will be more questions than answers. What are you looking for? Where are you staying? Those are not so much questions to be answered as they are experiences waiting and wanting to be lived. A firsthand experience invites us to discover the answers by living the questions.
Think how different today’s gospel would be if Jesus had just answered their question. “Where are you staying?” “Oh, it’s just a couple miles down this road. Second house on the left.” What do we do with that? How does that change anything? What difference does it make if we know Jesus’ address but we are not invited in? We might as well stay where we are.
But that’s not how Jesus responds. Jesus offers more than his address. “Come and see,” he says. There is reassurance and promise in his words. That means that he has something for us. It means that he is opening himself to us and inviting us in. He has gone ahead of us and prepared a place for us. Regardless of what’s going on in our life he makes it safe to move forward and take the next step in confidence that his life and presence await us. “Come and see” is his invitation to find ourselves and discover our lives. "It was about four in the afternoon."
Many of us have had "four o'clock" moments. Mine, as I've described before was June 24, 2012 at about 8:30 in the evening. Many of us can mark that time in our life when this "Come and see" from Jesus has been deeply personal. And it is not something that we can make happen. As a wise spiritual director told me one time, all we are to do is to just show up. Show up in the silence and prayer. Show up and ask, "Rabbi, where are you staying?"
Jesus is there waiting, waiting for our asking, waiting with anticipation for that moment when our lives will never be the same, waiting to share with us our four o'clock moment.
