Sunday 14th of January 2024 - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Samuel 3:3-10,19/ Psalm 39(40)/ 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20/ John 1:35-42

Today we get to the heart of what it is to be Christian, to be a follower of Christ, to be a disciple. To hear the call, to recognise where that call comes from, to respond to the call. To get to know Jesus, to see him as he is and then to stay with him. To live a spiritual life in union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

When Samuel, in the first reading, is called by God he is not sure where the call is from. He thinks it is his mentor, Eli. After the boy had been called three times Eli realised who was calling Samuel and instructed him how to respond the next time it happened. So it was that on the next occasion Samuel responded, ‘speak Lord, your servant is listening’. The Lord then remained with Samuel as he grew up. Samuel, who did not yet know God, was living in his presence within the temple. He was alert to the call when it came even though he was asleep. Samuel needed guidance in how to respond to the calling he received. It is a simple response but requires a total submission to God’s will. Only by remaining in God’s presence will we hear his call and when we hear the call, we must be ready to respond to it fully.

We might be reminded of Jesus at Gethsemane the night before he died. Jesus was always in the presence of God, his Father. That night he pleaded in prayer not to have to suffer and die but he heard the call and responded to it by submitting fully to the will of God. This is the example of discipleship given to us by Jesus.

The Psalm gives us a similar message, calling us to wait for the Lord and when he calls the response will change our lives, putting a new song in our mouths. The Lord calls for an open ear and a willingness to do his will. A joining with God in the depths of our hearts.

In the gospel passage we hear John’s interpretation of Jesus calling the first apostles. John’s gospel is theological, relating to the relationship between us and God, revealing to us who Jesus is rather than the other three gospels that tell us what Jesus did. In this passage John tells us what it is to become a disciple. How to respond to the call from Jesus. The first two people called were followers of John the Baptist. This implies that they were already on their journey of faith, awaiting the coming of the promised messiah. The Baptist fulfils his purpose in life by pointing out Jesus as the ‘lamb of God. The two disciples of John then began to follow Jesus in a physical sense and metaphorically. Seeing them following him Jesus asked the two what they wanted. In answering they refer to him as Rabbi, meaning master or teacher, asking where he lives. Jesus invited them to join him and see. They went and saw where Jesus lived, and they stayed with him for the rest of that day.

The following morning., Andrew, one of the two new followers of Jesus, sought out his brother Simon and told him they had found the Messiah and took him to Jesus. Andrew now recognised Jesus as more than a teacher or master but as the promised Messiah, the anointed one who would save his people. Having had this revealed to him, Andrew then spread news of this discovery to others. This is how our faith brings us to know God. We seek out the truth, we come into the presence of Jesus, seeing not only where he lives but how he lives. Jesus lives, abides, in union with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. This is the union that we aspire to be part of one day. Through seeing this is where Jesus resides, we also seek to reside there, staying with Jesus.

Our purpose as baptised Christians is to seek the Messiah, to see where he lives and to remain there with him. Having become apostles of Christ we, like Andrew, need to tell others about our find. Pointing out Jesus as John the Baptist did, and leading people to him as Andrew did with his brother. This whole account is a model of how Christianity works and what it is to be a follower of Christ.

The last passage of today’s gospel tells how on meeting Simon, Jesus changed his name to Cephas, which is rock in Aramaic, and Petros or Peter in Greek. This was the rock on which Jesus founded his church on earth, the rock that continues today through the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.

We are called individually by God to a special close relationship with him in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In baptism we become part of this intimate family of God. In response to that we must submit unquestionably to God’s will. In recognising that this union with God is holy we must seek to remain holy in our lives here in preparation for our eternal lives when this union will be complete. We need to discard the union we have with the passing world and ready ourselves for the union we aspire to with God. This is the lesson rather vividly put by Paul in the second reading. He is telling us that we are holy and should be looking for union with God rather than union with things of the earth.

Through prayer we follow Jesus and he will call us to come and see where he abides. We will recognise Jesus as not only a teacher and master but the one and only saviour we have from the imprisonment of sin. It is only possible through faith to truly come to recognise and know Jesus. He will lead us into a share of the special relationship, the indwelling, of the Holy Trinity. We are called to be disciples, followers of Jesus. Discipleship is much more than mere acceptance of Christ. We become part of God’s intimate family, abandoning our past, seeking to stay always with Jesus, making his home our home.

Listen out for God calling and be ready to respond, ‘speak, Lord, your servant is listening’.

God Bless Brendan.