“John … watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ … Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He … found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ …”
Mass Readings 1.18.15 — SM 3:3B-10, 19 — PS 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 — 1 COR 6:13C-15A, 17-20 — JN 1:35-42 — Find a Mass: MassTimes.org — Find a Mass: TheCatholicDirectory.com
Links & Resources
- The Formation of a Great Prophet – A Homily for the Second Sunday of the Year – Msgr. Charles Pope, Archdiocese of Washington
- Andrew brought his brother to Jesus – Gospel commentary by Saint Basil of Seleucia (?-c.468), bishop – DailyGospel.org
- Hearing the Call: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Classic – St. Vincent Archabbey
- Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Modern – St. Vincent Archabbey
Gospel
We witness a transition from John the Baptist’s Ministry in the River Jordan to the emergence of the Public Ministry of Christ.
John sees Jesus and confesses that Jesus is the Lamb of God:
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.
One of the two disciples of John the Baptist who follow after Jesus is Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.
Andrew and the other disciple of John follow Jesus to where He is staying. Already they are drawn to Jesus and regard Him as Teacher. They go and spend the day with Him.
Jesus turned and saw them following Him and said … ‘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 Jesus was staying, and they stayed with Him that day.
Note some of the pivotal moments and exchanges. One is, that after the two already have decided they wish to encounter Jesus, He asks — “What are you looking for?”
Perhaps He asks the same question of us, when we likewise are nudged to focus on Jesus with greater fervor.
We see here, how Jesus wishes to interact with our hearts, minds and souls, and draw the answer out of us.
At the same time, He reminds us that we are, indeed, looking for something — or in this case, Someone.
Andrew and the other disciple of John wish to know where Jesus is staying. Instead of just saying that they are looking for the Messiah, or asking for information, they wish to spend time with Jesus, and encounter Him as a Person. It is not enough to seek out dry facts; they seek a personal encounter with Jesus.
Recall how, later, Jesus will describe His Relationship with His Followers as that of Shepherd and Flock, saying, I know Mine and Mine know Me, with the Flock recognizing the Voice of their Shepherd.
Jesus answers Andrew and his companion, “Come, and you will see.”
This invitation, come and see, is a powerful one.
God invites us to Him, to experience Life with Him — to come and see.
It becomes clear that the two, as ardent followers of John, also eagerly await and are looking for the Messiah, of whom John the Baptist is the herald. The Messiah means a great deal to them, and to the future of humanity.
Andrew reports to Simon Peter that they have found the Messiah:
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He … found … Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ — … translated Christ —. … 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.
So as soon as Andrew accepts and believes that Jesus is the Christ, he wishes to share the Good News and profess it, and bring others to Christ.
He shares the news with Simon Peter, and brings him to Jesus.
Simon Peter, likewise, responds by allowing himself to be brought to Christ.
We hear Jesus giving a new name to Simon, calling him Peter. We recall how Peter means “rock.”
At a later point in the Gospels, at a later point in time, Jesus will declare to Peter, you are rock, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.
At that later point in time, Jesus will make that proclamation after Jesus asks His future Apostles, who do you say that I AM, and Peter professes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
So we see a parallel. At this earlier point in time, Simon Peter comes to Jesus seeking out and accepting Jesus as Messiah. Jesus calls him Peter, which means “rock.” At a much later time, Jesus will ask his Apostles, who do you say that I AM, and Peter will answer, You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus, at that time, in response to Peter’s Confession that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God, will declare that the Apostle is Peter, rock, and on this rock I will build My Church.
Responsorial Psalm
Here am I, Lord; I come to do Your Will.
First Reading
FIRST READING: Samuel 3:3B-10, 19
Samuel, as a boy, is staying at the temple, assisting and learning from the older Eli. God calls Samuel in his sleep, but Samuel thinks it is Eli who is calling him. After this happens several times, Eli realizes it is God calling the boy. Eli exhorts Samuel — an us — to respond to God’s Voice and God’s Call by saying, speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, ‘Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed His Presence, calling out as before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Second Reading
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 6:13C-15A, 17-20
The Apostle Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are part of the Mystical Body of Christ. Our bodies are not for immorality, but for holiness and service to God, Who purchased us at a great price.
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord….
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? … whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with Him. Avoid immorality. … Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? … Therefore glorify God in your body.
More Resources
