Lectionary: 207John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
T here are nine references to seeing in today's brief passage from the Gospel of Saint John. They set a pattern which we should notice throughout the Gospel.
They are: watched, behold, saw (2x), looking, see, found (2x), and looked.
Key to the Fourth Gospel is the responsibility of the Lord's disciples to see (or behold) what they are shown, and then testify to what they have seen. They are witnesses of the Lord's work passively and actively.
In both senses they act as Jesus acted throughout his life, obediently. When they are told to behold, they look intently. And having beheld something wonderful, they share the experience with everyone who will listen, so that they too will "come and see."
The Christmas Season seems longer this year as the Baptism of the Lord is still a week from tomorrow. We are given time to reflect on what we have seen since December 1, the First Sunday of Advent. We saw, to name some highlights, three solemnities; namely the Immaculate Conception, the Nativity of the Lord, and Mary the Mother of God. We saw John the Baptist calling us to prepare the way of the Lord by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We saw Joseph courageously receiving Mary into his home as his wife. Today, we have seen the Lord's new disciples following him where they apparently met his Mother and stayed with her and Jesus until they attended the wedding in Cana.
We are like the witnesses of the Lord's healing of the paralytic:
"Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.” (Luke 5:26)
People know who we are. That should be apparent. As Catholics our manner and appearance gives us away. We may be interested in news, weather, and sports; we may pay close attention to politics, entertainment, and the arts, but we're not given to fanaticism about anything. Our hearts are grounded by the Good News of Jesus, by what we have seen and heard. And our manner gives that away. We act and dress differently. Our pendants and lapel pins speak volumes.
People not only notice our faith; they hope we believe and act with the integrity born of faith. They expect our language to be more respectful, and our habits more dignified. They know the Church stands for something. If they disagree with Catholic teaching, or think they disagree with it, they know they can ask us about it and we can explain our faith. As Saint Peter said,
...should anyone ask you the reason for your hope, always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:15)
We can live and describe our faith with "gentleness and reverence, keeping our conscience clear," because the Truth speaks for itself and has its own power of persuasion. If not everyone who hears today believes today, they might come around as the truth works its way, explaining difficulties that seem otherwise inexplicable. The truth is its own champion. As my preacher friend said, "When God needs me to defend Him, we'll both be in trouble!"
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton did not set out to save the whole world, but she saw a need for poor children to be educated and she set out to do it. The Lord took that seed and made it flourish as thousands of women followed her example. The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, along with many other Catholic communities of women, in thousands of Catholic schools throughout the United States, working with laymen and women, continue to educate generations of children.
As Saint Paul said,
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth." (1 Cor 3:6-7)
We don't have to see the harvest of our work, we know the word of God -- what we have seen and heard -- will not fail.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.