TODAY’S READINGS

The Gospel reading is from Jn 1:35-42. Jesus begins to accumulate followers, the first ones at the prompting of John (he must decrease and Christ must increase). Jesus asks a question and the new apostles ask a question. Both are worth thoughtful consideration.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day. (vv. 38-39)

“[I]t is not merely natural curiosity but Christ’s personalty which attracts them. They want to get to know him, to be taught by him, to enjoy his company. ’Come and see’ (1:39; cf. 11:34) — a tender invitation to begin that intimate friendship they were seeking. Time and personal; contact with Christ will be needed to make them more secure in their vocation…

“Christian faith can never be just a matter of intellectual curiosity; it affects one’s whole life: a person cannot understand it unless he really lives it; therefore, our Lord does not at this point tell them in detail about his way of life; he invites them to spend the day with him…what God is (in himself or in grace) can only be understood through experience…” (The Navarre Bible: St John, 55)

“The two disciples of John respond to Jesus’ invitation, setting an example for all whom Jesus will invite to himself…[T]he word for ‘stay’ can also be translated ‘remain’ or ‘abide’ expressing an intimate and lasting personal relationship (see 1:32-33; 6:56; 15:4-7). The disciples ‘stayed with him that day’ as the first step in their becoming united with him, remaining in him and in his love (see 15:9-10).” (Bringing the Gospel of John to Life, 33)

It seems to me that it is always helpful to answer any of Jesus’ questions ourselves. So, “What are you looking for?” What first comes to mind? A (better) job? A new car? Peace in the family? Healing? All good things. All passing things. By looking for Jesus and looking to do His will, we seek a solid foundation for our lives not only in this life, but in the life to come. Consider Jesus words elsewhere in the Gospels:

There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her. (Lk 10:42)

“Only one thing,” and the rest falls into place. John, in today’s Gospel, encourages the same of his disciples. Surely, he anticipated St. Augustine’s famous line from the first page of his Confessions:

You move us to delight in praising You; for You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.

As for asking Jesus, “Where are you staying?”, hopefully the first answer is “In my heart.” But it should prompt us to visit Him, really present, in the Blessed Sacrament, even if just for a few moments. What a tremendous privilege of which so few of us take advantage.

Not the same, but here is a live adoration site that I particularly love. Another, closer to (my) home in a church I have visited.

ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON (1774-1821)

The first American-born canonized saint. A wonderful and inspiring story of a woman who truly embraced the universal call to holiness.

I am reminded of my friend, Sr. Elizabeth Ann Brady, who I used to visit in the 1990’s and early 2000’s at a retirement home for religious. She had been an elementary school teacher for some seventy years. One of the kindest and most joyous persons one could hope to meet. She died at 97 almost twenty years ago to the day. I would bet she is hanging out with the other Elizabeth Ann as I type, but I still pray for my friend often.

God bless.

The Calling of Saint John and Saint Andrew (1886-1894) by James Tissot