Word to the Wise
Saturday, January 4, 2025 - Jan. 4
[1 John 3:7-10 and John 1:35-42]John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which 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. [John]
JANUARY 4 ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON
We have moved, liturgically, from the stories of Jesus' infancy to nearly 30 years later to the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the testimony of John the Baptist. In today's scene, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God." Two disciples hear this and "follow" Jesus. Then Jesus turns and confronts them, "What are you looking for?" Their stammered reply is: "Where are you staying?" Jesus replies, "Come and you will see!" The verbs "staying" and "seeing" will be major themes in the Gospel According to John. ("Staying" is translated as "remaining" elsewhere in the gospel.)
The scene describes the way many would come to believe in Jesus. They will hear about him, then encounter him and then see him and remain with him. Jesus' first words to the two curious disciples are, "What are you looking for?" That question is one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked of anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus. How do we "stay" with him? As the Gospel According to John will teach, "staying with Jesus" is more than an individual adoring relationship. It carries with it Jesus' fundamental command to "love one another as I have loved you." [John 15:12-13] Piety, alone, is not sufficient. The "Word" can "become flesh" in the believer who follows Jesus' example of love. AMEN