Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Come and you will see.”

Gospel Reading: 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 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. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.

Jesus said to them, "Come and you will see."  So what is it that they saw?  John proclaims to two of his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”  The disciples heard this and decided to follow Jesus.  In response to decision to follow Jesus, he said to them, “What are you looking for?”  They want to know where he is staying and Jesus replies, “Come, and you will see.”  Jesus is again referred to as the Lamb of God, the Passover Lamb.  This is the same Lamb that led the Israelites out of Egypt.  The two disciples recognize him and proclaim, “We have found the Messiah.”  We too are called to follow Christ and invite him to stay within us.  One of the two who followed Christ was Andrew, the brother of Simon.  IN response to his encounter with Christ, Andrew brings Simon to Christ.  When Simon encounters Christ, Christ embraces him and gives him a new title – Cephas or Peter – which means rock.  Like Andrew, when we encounter Christ, we too are called to bring others to his table.  How many of us received a gift this Christmas we just had to share with others?  This is what Andrew felt like when he encountered Christ.  When we encounter Christ, we should want to lead others to Christ with the same enthusiasm and excitement we would for any prized treasure we receive.  We should call all to “Come and see.”

A Simple Prayer

Lord, You are the lamb of God.

I want to follow you.

I want to come and see.

Give me the strength to bring others to you.

Yours in Christ,

Michael Marcon