2ND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B 24

Focus: Journey of discipleship! Indicative: Every true discipleship is a constant journey of progression and maturation 1. We see clearly Progression of the journey of discipleship in Jn 1. 35-41. There is Andrew’s call. There is a clear progression and maturation in Andrew’s discipleship. 2. (Verse 35): “Already placed in an initial situation of discipleship”:  Andrew was already introduced to the way of discipleship, by having been a disciple of John the Baptist.  He was being taught and guided in the conditions and principles of discipleship by John the Baptist. Similarly a disciple need not always directly and immediately encounter Jesus, know him and follow him. He may be gradually led to Jesus. Discipleship is a progressive ascent, and one should not unduly desire for a sudden growth and full-scale following. 3. (Verses 36-37): “Led by others, led to Jesus”:  At the sight of Jesus passing by, John the Baptist declares, “Look, the Lamb of God!” This is both a simple vocative address of an invitation to draw attention onto Jesus, and is also a confirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Lamb of God, who carries upon himself the burden of the sins of humanity, in their place and on their behalf. Therefore, an initial disciple is to fix his attention on Jesus who is the Lamb of God. John the Baptist, himself a noble disciple who walks the way of the Lord, like a true disciple does not let the focus fixed on him; rather he shifts the attention of his disciples toward Jesus.  This is the nature and the duty of a good disciple: never keeping himself as the center of attraction or point of focus but with all self-detachment, lead all to Jesus, the real centre and goal of focus.  Andrew too like a good well-disposed disciple, “hears” the attestation of John the Baptist, “looks at Jesus” as asked by the Baptist, and “followed Jesus”. In his discipleship, a disciple may need many to show him Jesus, teach the truth about him and to lead him to Jesus. There is nothing wrong to take the mediation, guidance and help of others in his knowing and getting closer to Jesus. At times it can happen that some initial disciples, in their self-complacency refuse to seek and accept the help of others, and at times even may not admit that they were helped by others in their following Jesus. However this initial following is imperfect because still there is not yet any personal knowledge, experience, intimacy and commitment to Jesus. This is more a setting on the journey of discipleship in the spirit of searching to know the Lord personally. It is a searching for a deeper way of discipleship. 4. (Verse 38): “A spirit of searching to know where the Master stays”: Seeing the two disciples following him, Jesus asks them, “What are you looking for?” and they answer, “Where are you staying?” Jesus’ question and their question in answer indicate the true spirit of discipleship. A true disciple should be constantly in search, looking for the Master. When a disciple ceases to search and to explore, he ceases to progress and mature in his journey. Andrew and the other disciple were not sure and clear of Jesus’ abode, but they were clear and sure of one thing: they wanted to know it. The desire to know where Jesus stayed was not a mere matter of a location, a place of his stay. It is rather indicative of his life-situation.  Therefore the question of the disciples was rather a question to see at first hand the life condition, the ambience of Jesus’ way of life. How many disciples of today really know what they are looking for? First of all, is there that motivation, that spirit of search to know the Lord from close? How many disciples are really interested to get more and more familiar with the way of life Jesus? Is it not true that the way some of the present disciples live, without sense of purpose and direction, as if they are groping in the dark, shows that they do not really know what and who they are following? 5. (Verse 39): “Go, see and stay with Jesus”: Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ query about his place of stay was, “Come and see”. As an instant response, they go, they see where he stayed and stayed with him. This is a fundamental requirement for any disciple’s progress in following Jesus. They should constantly hearken to the call of Jesus, “come and see”. One who goes and sees where Jesus is, cannot but stay with him. Every day, a disciple of Jesus must go to Jesus, see him intimately, and spend time with him. He must personally experience Jesus. He must share the same life-situation of Jesus. It is not a picnic for site-seeing. It is an invitation for a personal encounter and communion. How many today pay heed to the ceaseless invitation of Jesus, “come and see”? How sad it is that this invitation is totally drained of its essential content and unceasing call, and is reduced only to the initial stages of formation, the so-called “come and see” program and stage?  After that stage, where do the disciples go and what do they see? Is the staying in the formation house, or in the parish or convent, or for that matter even a family, really a staying with Jesus?  Speaking in terms of regularity to the church-going or fidelity to prayer and spiritual devotions, how many followers of Jesus bother to go to the church, stay a while in the intimate presence of Jesus and participate in the spiritual moments of Word and Sacrament? 6. (Verse 41): “Finding the Messiah, the Christ”:  Having gone, seen and stayed with Jesus, Andrew declares to Simon Peter, his brother, “We have found the Messiah”. He experienced something profound and personal. Closeness with Jesus touched him. He was deeply affected by the person and life of Jesus.  He could not keep it for himself. The power of Jesus’ experience was so overwhelming that he could not but share it with others. He would not wait or delay for long. That is why “early the next morning”, he found his brother and confessed to him his personal discovery. A disciple’s being with Jesus must lead him to a personal discovery of the Lord as the Saviour. It should deepen his knowledge and conviction about the Master. Years and years of frequenting the church or participating in different sacraments, and hours and hours of staying with the Lord, bundles and bundles of prayers and spiritual activities – whether all these have led us to find the Lord? Why is it that still many disciples are living lives which are clearly untouched by the Savior, as if they have not yet met Christ, as if they are still strangers to him? How many disciples today can honestly and confidently say, “We have found the Messiah”? 7. (Verse 42): Following Jesus personally and leading others too to Jesus”: Andrew “brought Simon” as well to Jesus. A true disciple who follows Jesus is not content with his own following the Lord, but in zealous to bring others as well to Jesus to follow him. Discipleship is a discovery of the immense treasure of the Lord, but is not limited only to the individual. The personal communion with the Lord is so intensive that it becomes so extensive, striving passionately to extend the embrace of the Lord far and wide, to one and many. There is something basically wrong when the devotion or the spiritual fervour of a disciple becomes more a private enterprise and does not seek to include and extend to others. A disciple who cares only to maintain and promote himself as a disciple and does not feel concerned to lead others and help them grow in their spiritual journey is rather dubious. In fact this is the last mission mandate of Jesus at his departure from the earth: “Go therefore and make disciples from all nations” (Mt 28. 19). How many disciples of the Lord today bring others closer to Jesus?  Imperative: Am i am seeking Jesus and led to him? Then, am  I leading others to the Lord, or misleading them away from the Lord? (Reflection 2) Focus: What are you Looking for? Indicative: There is a frantic search in the life of many. But many are not clear and sure of what they are searching for. We need a searching and attentive spirit to discover God's presence.   1. John the Baptist knew Jesus to be the Lamb of God who carries the whole burden of sin in humanity. Accordingly, he directs the attention of two of his disciples to Jesus. Here in him, we see a true leader and guide. 2. He could dispossess even his own followers. He does not keep his followers vehemently as his own possession but rightfully guides them to the greatest source of life. In the light of the first reading, he does not deceive them as the awaited Messiah. As one who practises righteousness, he leads them to the Righteous One. 3. Immediately, the two disciples leave him and follow Jesus. It is not an act of instability or defection in disloyalty, as found abundantly in today's many followers. Rather, it shows their spirit of search for what is true and higher. 4. They were not such followers who blindly clung to John the Baptist. They would also not easily desert their loyalty with self-interested calculations. They just want to discover personally who is Jesus. They have the openness and eagerness to set themselves in search of him. 5. They stay with him and experience him. They discover something profound. They discover the Messiah in Jesus. Their search was meaningful and successful. They found what they were searching for. In fact, they find more than what they wanted to find. 6. They wanted to know where Jesus was staying. But they experience the person with whom they stayed. It is more than a discovery of a place or the whereabouts of a great man. This is a deeper transition and journey. Their experience goes beyond the place to the person. 7..Still, they do not stop there. Those who truly and personally experience Jesus cannot but share it with others. They share the same experience with others and bring them also to Jesus. Andrew brings his brother Peter also to the Lord.   Imperative: True is never a blind adherence to anything lower and false but a willing search and commitment to the higher and the true. For a follower of Christ, the highest discovery is the Lord himself