2nd Sunday of the Year, Year B
"Look! There is the Lamb of God!"
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42
After the feast of the Lord's Baptism last Sunday, this coming
Sunday, we will hear the gospel account of how St. John the
Baptist was shepherding his own disciples to the direction of
Jesus. And so, when Jesus was seen walking by among them, John
exclaimed, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" Two of John's
disciples heard this and then followed Jesus. One of the two
of who followed Jesus was Andrew. Andrew then sought out his
brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" (for
John had pointed Him out to Andrew). As the two brothers
approached Jesus, Jesus looked upon Simon, and then gave him a
new name: Cephas (which is rendered as Peter).
For many of us seasoned Catholics, we were baptized during our
infancy and learned about the Catholic faith through our parents,
through Catholic schools, or through catechists. But even if
we were initiated already into the Christian life through our
infant baptism, a majority of us have not been really led to
encounter Christ personally and get to know Him in Word,
Sacrament, and through the living of a devout life. What often
happens is we even stray away from the requirements of our
Catholic faith. But usually, God sends persons, significant
people in our life, who help us convert and live a more devout
life in the Church. (Like what St. Ambrose and St. Monica did
for the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo.)
As we journey on in our Christian life, there will be many
occasions of people (like St. John the Baptist) who will point
out Christ to us and shepherd us to follow Him more devoutly.
These people can be members of our own family, our friends, or
anyone in our social network. When we are given the
opportunity by others to rediscover Christ in our life, we can
then imitate the action done by St. Andrew - who went and
sought out his brother Simon and led him to encounter Jesus
also. We too, like St. Andrew, can shepherd others to Jesus.
And we can do this in many ways - in the very social milieu
in which we live and work. We can shepherd others to Jesus
through: our good example; through charitable advice; through
the giving of moral support; by solving other people's
problems; by visiting the sick; or even by simply radiating
the presence of Christ through random acts of kindness,
goodness, generosity, patience, and peace, wherever we are.
