We Have Found the Messiah!
Introduction:
May you continue to respond to GOD’s call and follow Jesus’ invitation to
“come and see.”
A teacher is always excited when a student desires to learn even more than what has been presented. GOD wants us to be excited learners (disciples). Jesus came as the master teacher to invite us to learn from Him and develop a relationship with His Abba Father. He continues to present opportunities to us to expand our “knowledge” of our GOD. I chose and emphasized the word “knowledge” because in Biblical understanding, “knowledge” implies having a relationship with the one who teaches and reveals. Jesus is continuing to invite us to “come and see.”
The readings speak about GOD’s call and people’s response. In the First Reading, the youthful Samuel, already dedicated to the service of GOD, is called by GOD in a way unknown to him before this point in his life. The psalm reverberates the theme of call as the psalmist describes the anticipation of, and the response to, GOD’s call. St. Paul speaks about one aspect of responding to GOD’s call: the use of our human bodies in the process of drawing closer to the Lord Jesus. The Gospel account is the call and response of Jesus’ first disciples.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10,19
'Speak, Lord, your servant is listening'
Commentary: The call of the young boy Samuel into the Lord’s service is always a favourite. It is easy to imagine the boy lying, dozing on his mat in the half-darkness, hearing the voice murmur ‘Shmuel’ (the Hebrew form of his name). Was it really a call, was it the old prophet calling, or just the wind in the pillars of the Temple? He has all the directness, willingness, and simplicity of a child, the sort of qualities needed for the Kingdom of God. Often, however, in the same way, we do not know whether an ‘inspiration’ is really the call of God or our own imagination. Prayer and advice help in discerning the genuine call from a madcap scheme! Others may know us better than we know ourselves, and God’s call is always fitted to our true nature.
Responsorial Psalm 40:2,4,7-10
Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will
The psalm is a description of one who has anxiously waited for GOD to act. The psalmist finally experiences GOD’s presence. The response is to praise GOD in a song of thanksgiving/ proclamation. A second sign of response to GOD’s call is not through sacrifices and ritual rites, but through obediently doing GOD’s will and keeping GOD’s commandments.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20
Do not sin against your own body
Commentary: The Christian community at Corinth was a troublesome lot and
seems to have lacked any resident human guide. They relied on the Holy Spirit,
backed up by several letters from Paul. Here we have Paul’s most forceful
reason for sexual self-control: as Christ lives in us by his Spirit, all our
bodily members are Christ’s, and Christ is involved in every movement of them.
This should give us a wonderful reverence for our bodies, knowing that we
implicate Christ in all our body’s activities. The most powerful expression
comes in verse 16 (omitted in the public reading, perhaps as being too pointed)
‘anyone who attaches himself to a prostitute is one body with her, since the
two become one flesh’. This drives the lesson home: Christ, too, becomes
involved with the prostitute. Christ is involved in a wonderful way in the
sexual act of procreation, giving a couple the inestimable privilege and joy of
sharing in God’s work of creation. But Christ is also abused by a Christian’s
abuse of sex.
Gospel: John 1:35-42
'We have found the Messiah'
Commentary:
This story of the call of the first disciples takes place in the Jordan
valley, where John was baptising. The first two to be called are disciples of
John, so had joined his group of those waiting for the Messiah. They were ready
when John pointed him out. It is striking that Jesus first calls them to be
with him, and first of all they remain with him for a time. First in our call
to follow Christ comes prayer and getting to know Christ, before we can
actively work for Christ and bring others to share his joy. Only after this
repose with Jesus do they sprint off in their enthusiasm and bring others to
join in the benefits they have received from the tranquillity of keeping
company with Jesus
Reflection: Who is Jesus for you?
John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus' mission as the
One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover Lamb (Exodus
12) delivered the Israelites from their oppression in Egypt and from the plague
of death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life for us on the cross as the atoning
sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood that he poured out for us
on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us from our slavery to sin, and from the
"wages of sin which is death" (Romans 6:23) and the "destruction
of both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
Significantly, John was the son of the priest, Zachariah, who participated
in the daily sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus
29). In Jesus, John saw the true and only sacrifice that could deliver us from bondage
to sin, death, and the powers of hell. How did John know the true identity of Jesus,
as the Son of God and Savior of the world (John 1:29)? The Holy Spirit revealed
to John Jesus' true nature, such that John bore witness that this is the Son of
God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living
God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the gift of
faith. God gives us freely of his Spirit that we may comprehend - with enlightened
minds and eyes of faith - the great mystery and plan of God to unite all things
in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
"What do you seek?"
John in his characteristic humility was eager to point beyond himself
to Christ (means Anointed One and Messiah). He did not hesitate to
direct his own disciples to the Lord Jesus. When two of John's disciples began to
seek Jesus out, Jesus took the initiative to invite them into his company. He did
not wait for them to get his attention. Instead, he met them halfway. He asked them
one of life's most fundamental questions: "What are you looking for?"
Jesus asks each one of us the same question: "What are you searching for? Do
you know the meaning and purpose of your life?" Only God, the Father and Author
of life can answer that question and make our purpose fully known to us. That is
why the Lord Jesus invites each one of us to draw near to himself. He wants us to
know him personally - to know what he came to do for us and what he wants to offer
us.
"Come and see"
"Come and see" is the Lord's invitation for each one of
us to discover the joy of friendship and communion with the One who made us in love
for love. Saint Augustine of Hippo reminds us that it is God, our Creator and Redeemer,
who seeks us out, even when we are not looking for him: "If you hadn't been
called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn't the very One who called
you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back?" It
is God who initiates and draws us to himself. Without his mercy and help, we could
not find him on our own.
When we find something of great value it's natural to want to share
the good news of our discovery with our family, friends, and neighbors. When Andrew
met Jesus and discovered that he was truly the Messiah, he immediately went to his
brother Simon and told him the good news. Andrew brought his brother to meet Jesus
so he could "come and see" for himself. When Jesus saw Simon approaching,
he immediately reached out to Simon in the same way he had done for Andrew earlier.
Jesus looked at Simon and revealed that he knew who Simon was and where he came
from even before Simon had set his eyes on Jesus. Jesus gave Simon a new name which
signified that God had a personal call and mission for him. Jesus gave Simon the
name "Cephas" which is the Aramaic word for "rock". Cephas is
translated as Peter (Petros in Greek and Petrus in Latin) which also literally means "rock".
To call someone a "rock" was one of the greatest
compliments in the ancient world. The rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham,
he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon." Through
Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus
truly was - the Anointed One (Messiah
and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God. The New Testament describes
the church as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living
stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual
stones. The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith to know the Lord Jesus personally,
the power to live the gospel faithfully, and the courage to witness the truth and
joy of the Gospel to others. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to draw us to himself.
Do you seek to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy
Spirit that I may grow in the knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit
be aflame in my heart that I may joyfully seek to do your will in all things.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: 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 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)
WHO OWNS YOU?
“Shun lewd conduct.” —1 Corinthians 6:18. The sexual revolution has produced
disastrous consequences in so many ways. Individual lives have been ravaged.
Society has suffered a serious moral decline. Marriage and family have been
redefined far from God’s original plan. Birth rates have fallen to the point
that there are not enough workers to fill the demands of labor. The tug and
lure of our human passions are already strong enough without adding sexual
pressures from society at large (see Jas 1:14; 4:1; 1 Jn 2:16). When we stoke that passion by watching
“entertainment” or listening to music which promotes immorality and fans the
flames of our human lusts, we are in effect loading bullets into the chamber of
Satan’s gun pointed at our heart.
How can we overcome these passions? Make a covenant
with your eyes and ears (see Jb 31:1). Stop listening to and stop watching immoral
entertainment. Let God take custody of your eyes and heart (see Prv 4:23). Think only of holy and good things (Phil 4:8). Beg the Lord for the Holy Spirit, Who fights
against the flesh (Gal 5:17). Go to the Lamb of God in Mass often, even daily.
“The Lord is for the body” and the body (including our
eyes, ears, skin, and mind) “is for the Lord” (1 Cor 6:13). Our bodies, minds, and desires do not belong
to us; Jesus has purchased us at the price of His own blood (1 Cor 6:20). If you don’t give yourself to the Lord
Jesus, Satan will make himself at home in you instead (see Lk 11:24-26). There is no neutral ground in the “body
battle.” Give your body and your life to the Lord.
Prayer: Father, this is
my body, to be given up for You. “To do Your will, O my God, is my delight, and
Your law is within my heart!” —Ps 40:9. “All this I tell you that My joy may be yours
and your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). We rejoice in You, risen Jesus!
The personal
action for today: How have I responded when the Lord Jesus invited me into a deeper relationship
with the Triune GOD? Was I unaware of the call, as was Samuel at first? Did I accept
the invitation to “Come and See”? What am I doing now to be more aware of GOD’s
constant calling of me? Am I willing to invite others to come to know the Lord Jesus
to Whom I am drawing closer? What is the best way for me to invite another to “Come
and See”?