Reading
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Meditation
Fully aware of his role as forerunner, John does not keep his disciples to himself, but indicates Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who comes to take away the sins of the world. Jesus realizes that two of John's disciples are following him and turns towards them. He always knows our inner dispositions and when he understands that we want to follow him he takes the initiative by showing us his face.
First of all, Jesus asks those who follow him what they are looking for. The response of the two disciples is an example for us. Calling him "Rabbi" (Master), they testify to recognize him as the author of wisdom. They do not seek material goods and advantages, but the place of his abode. Surely they did not find a home as luxurious as those of the doctors of the law, but they understood that Jesus dwell with the Father.
For this reason, after having stopped with him, in a kind of contemplative pause, the urgency of the announcement awakens in the two. Andrew, the first of those called, became the first apostle, testifying to his brother Simon "We have found the Messiah" and leading him to Jesus.
Andrew shows that the following of Christ, the encounter of his gaze and abiding with him, arouse in the true apostle the desire to share. Grace is a treasure that grows by communicating it to our brothers and sisters.
Jesus lays his gaze on Peter - once again the initiative is his - and in an instant he grasps who he is, the person who is contained in his name; it also indicates the meaning of his call: he will be a stone (gr. cepha), because the community of believers will be built on his testimony of faith.
The experience of Andrew and Simon shows that the gaze of Jesus knows how to see without stopping at the surface, but penetrates us, enriching our life with meaning.
Prayer
O Lord, we recognize you as a prophet, priest and king. Allow us to remain in you like the branch in the vine; to bear fruits of conversion. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
