Homily for January 4

Homily for January 4, 2024

John 1: 35-42
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph Residence, N.R.

“John was standing with 2 of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’” (John 1:35-36).

St. John the Baptist Points Out Christ to Andrew

(Ottavio Vannini)

The gospels are clear that John the Baptist knew his role:  to prepare for the One greater than he who would fire people with the Holy Spirit.  Yesterday we heard (or would have heard) John point to Jesus as Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, the Son of God (1:29-34).  Today John moves from a general identification of Jesus to a particular one; he directs 2 of his own disciples to the Lamb of God, to the one greater than he.

These 2 disciples, one identified as Andrew, take John’s cue.  They are seeking whatever it is that John is promoting, tho they obviously don’t understand what that is.  Like any solid disciple, they want something more if it’s available.

So they follow this unknown Lamb of God.  They address him as Teacher; they’re eager to learn.  They ask him where he’s staying; they want to be with him; they accept his invitation.  The 2 are invited by Jesus to come to him.  Altho they take the important step of beginning to follow him, the initiative belongs to Jesus:  “Come and see” (1:39).  Come and stay with me.  If Jesus has invited us into his company, of course we have the option of accepting the invite, as Andrew and the other disciple did.  Then we owe gratitude to Jesus for this gift of invitation.

And they stayed with him that day” (1:39).  To learn from Jesus, one must stay with him or remain with him.  This is the true situation of a true disciple; and to remain with Jesus not just for a day but constantly.  Andrew and his friend must have enjoyed those hours with Jesus—Andrew so much that he wants to share this relationship with Jesus; he seeks out his brother Simon in order to bring him to Jesus—the 1st time but not the last when Andrew will lead someone to Jesus.  A true disciple wants to share the joy he’s found, wants to expand the circle of the friends of Jesus.

Their half-afternoon with Jesus has also deepened the insight of Andrew and his companion.  Jesus is not merely a teacher; having spent time with him and listened to him, perhaps probing him too, they perceive that he’s the Messiah.  Spending time with Jesus leads one to a fuller grasp of his Person.

As we know from the rest of the gospel accounts, that grasp of Jesus is only beginning in this one encounter.  Knowing Jesus is a developing process.  May the Holy Spirit whom Jesus bestows upon us thru our Baptism and ongoing relationship with him ever deepen that relationship, keeping us inseparably united with him, so that we may remain with Jesus all our days, and forever.