SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR B
1 Sam. 3:3b-10,19; Ps 40
1Cor. 6:13c-15a,17-20; John 1:35-42
UNLOCKING THE CODE FOR INVITATION
John the Baptist was with two of his disciples as Jesus was passing by. As Jesus passed, John declared, “behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 2:36). His two disciples decided to follow the Lord. Jesus turned and asked them, “what do you seek? They asked, “where do you live?” The Lord invited them into his home with such tender words, “come and see”. Certainly, these two disciples would not have been the only ones to have heard John talking about Jesus? But they were the ones who got the invitation into Jesus’ home. Even though Jesus came for all, on this day only two got the invitation. What then must we do to be invited into fellowship and communion with Jesus?
Have a deliberate desire to know Him
Those who are invited are those who have a deliberate desire to know and to live with the Lord. When Jesus turned to see John’s disciples following him, he asked, “what do you seek?” This question seems harsh but it is to help them clarify their intentions for following him. By asking this question, Jesus points out that anyone who desires to follow him must be intentional about it and not just follow the crowd. It is a question we must continually ask ourselves. In your worship, “what do you seek?” Some seek just the signs and the miracles. But these disciples seek to “stay” with him. The Greek word used to translate, “stay”, is “menō”. It is used by Jesus himself to describe the kind of enduring and fruitful relationship that exist between him and his loved ones. “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
The invitation then is for those who desire a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, not for those who seek him for his power to perform miracles. Until we realise that the goal of our life is fellowship with Jesus, our whole life becomes a purposeless racing to nowhere.
Readiness to be taught and nurtured by Jesus.
When Jesus asked, “what do you seek?” they referred to him as “rabbi” which means “teacher”. This expresses their willingness to yield to his teachings. It is a recognition that Jesus is the teacher they would like to follow. We must remember that these were disciples of John, who are now calling Jesus “rabbi” and asking to be his disciples.
To receive the invitation to remain with the Lord, we must submit to his teachings. Jesus teaches us how to live in the world as God’s children; he teaches us to forgive, to be diligent at work and to be good citizens.
His teaching is not an option. His teaching is the point of departure in anything we do. We cannot measure the teachings of Jesus with our favourite motivational speakers, personalities or pastors.
If you are willing and ready to allow your life to be ruled by the teachings of Jesus, the invitation to “come”, is for you?
Switch your life
Switch your life to get the invite. When John’s disciples heard him declare that Jesus is the “lamb of God”, they left John immediately to follow Jesus.
To “follow Jesus” would mean that they were walking behind him, the reason for which Jesus turned towards them but more deeply it means they turned their allegiance from John to Jesus. Their response was immediate. Anyone who desires close relationship with the Lord must respond with haste to the message of Jesus. We must respond immediately because delays have a way of weakening our resolve, of thinking that we can do it another time or at anytime. The time for responding to the Lord is now.
They came with their all.
To move into the home of Jesus is indicative of their total surrender to the Lord. They held nothing back. To give your all to Jesus and to surrender to him is to give him control of your life so he can redirect and refashion you. You cannot give the Lord part of your life. You must give all. You can only come to the Lord as a whole number and not as a fraction. Again, our surrender must not be motivated by personal benefits but by a personal relationship with the Lord.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).
May we be attentive to the call of The Jesus. May we be found worthy in his company. May our lives be groomed by him and grow in union with him.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
