Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”
Potential disciples of the 21st century might turn and ask the Lord the same question, “What are you looking for?”
A formerly Judeo-Christian society, alienated not only from faith but from our religious nature, would gape in astonishment at the appearance of Christ among us. What is he doing here? What does he want?
But he would also find many who are seeking God, or Truth, or Love; and often in all the wrong places. Many look to drugs, alcohol, entertainment, social media, or virtual reality and discover only disappointment. Others wallow in love with love, looking continually for a relationship which will connect them to reality on their own terms. Some even pursue long discredited ideologies like racism and socialism.
Unless the Christ comes to them, they cannot find him.
In today’s gospel we hear the Baptist cry, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Catholics know the expression well since we hear it in every Mass. After we have taken the bread, blessed and broken it, and as we are about to form our procession to the altar, the presiding priest declares, “Behold…!”
There may be some in the congregation who also hear in their hearts, “What are you looking for?” Frankly surprised by the question, they might ask, “Where do you stay?”
Clearly, he stays among us.
From long before the birth of Jesus, the LORD assured his people of his immediate presence. The Word of God, whom we adore, speaks insistently to us from Deuteronomy 30: 11:
For this command which I am giving you today is not too wondrous or remote for you. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who will go up to the heavens to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?” Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?” No, it is something very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.
Any notion of God as uncaring and removed is not just wrong; it's unjust. The Lord comes for us; it is we who flee him.
As we start into 2021, we discover the Lord coming for us as we are also going to him. If we are impelled by need, hope, and the fear of death, we are also curious. We want to know the Lord; we want to know where he lives, and where he comes from. We want to know what is expected of those who follow him.
But he cannot tell us, he can only show us. Divine Revelation was never about ideas, information, or facts; it is always an invitation to "come and see" where God lives, and how we may become worthy to stay with him.
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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.