“I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So, I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” -Martin Luther King Jr., the night before he was assassinated.
Martin Luther King Jr. knew what he was looking for. He had fought for it for so long and he had the vision to see it, even if at a distance. It was in his heart and in his dreams. As we celebrate him this week can we see that vision and look for the ways to help bring it about?
What are you looking for? With the events of the last year and those of the last few weeks, this question might be on our minds. We are certainly looking for health and protection from the virus. Also, we desire racial justice in our society. Lately, it is clear we need to seek national reconciliation and unity in order to move forward together. There are so many things we look for in the New Year.
The one asking us this same question today is Jesus. In this Sunday’s gospel from John we begin Ordinary Time and take a short break from Mark. John the Baptist points out Jesus, naming him the Lamb of God, to two of his own disciples. The two began to follow Jesus. At that point Jesus asks them the question that is really a constant in all of our lives, “What are you looking for?” It is not a simple question. John’s gospel is always deeper and theological. What are we looking for? Do we even know what we are looking for in life? Will we even know it when we find it? This is a good question for us all now.
The two disciples respond by asking Jesus where he is staying, which again has a deeper meaning. The word they use is not just place but more like where Jesus abides, as in abiding in God. Jesus stays with the Father. “Come and See” is mentioned twice here, by Jesus and then again by Phillip. Jesus responds to them and to us with “Come and See.” “Staying” is mentioned three times. To stay in Jesus for John’s gospel is not just a location, but to really listen, and to be transformed. To stay with Jesus is to stay with the Father, in a communion brought about by the Spirit. This is not just a visit, rather it is a homecoming. It is where we belong, where we need to stay. We are created by God and will only be back home when we are with God. Listen to Jesus tell you, “Come and see.”
In this gospel the disciples are slowly transformed as they identify Jesus in a deeper and deeper way. They start by calling him rabbi, which means teacher, showing their openness to learning from him. Later in the gospel they will call him Messiah, Son of God, King of Israel, and finally the link between heaven and earth, where Jesus describes that they will see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. This progression is only possible through faith. To go through these stages of faith they need to go to school with the teacher. They need to be not only willing students but also disciples who go deeper into themselves.
The two disciples stayed with Jesus, and begin the relationship, a time together that creates the friendship that leads one to know Jesus, and then to invite others to get to know him. They brought Peter. When we discover something great, very special, we tell others, and keep spreading the message.
Sometimes listening to what has affected or impressed my friends I come to know things better for myself. A good example is the experience of the ACTS retreats, which have deeply affected and changed many people. If I am impressed by you, maybe it will lead me to imitate you in what I admire. Until we simply come, see and meet Christ, whether through others, prayer, scripture, or sacraments, we will not know him. To know him is to be changed, transformed. To know him and stay with him is to have a new life, to be home.
John does not use stories of fishing, boats, nets or their fathers to tell when the disciples started following Jesus. His story is more theological, a post Easter reflection, to stress what it means to be a disciple. The key here is to be a witness to Jesus, even if you can’t prove everything about Jesus to someone. You witness by your words and deeds. Who do you know really witnesses Jesus?
John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus. His disciple witness to Jesus to their friends. Nathaniel later interrupts the invitation with skepticism and even prejudice, when he questions Jesus’ credentials because of his origin in Nazareth. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Does this kind of thinking sound familiar today? Martin Luther King Day is a time to root out prejudice. The immigration debate is questioning who we want in our country. Some look at certain countries as undesirable, yet the history of immigration often shows if anyone gets an opportunity to improve their life they can do it and contribute greatly to society.
I saw the immigration story while at Mission Concepcion when we would adopt a refugee family each year, assist them with some rent and food and visit them. In the course of their first year the children learned English and thrived at school while parents often worked very hard and slowly got better jobs. They just needed to be secure, have some initial support and encouragement and the rest would happen. Nathaniel meets Jesus and becomes a follower immediately, calling him Son of God. When we really know Jesus our prejudice melts away just like when we take time to know others who are different from us. Tell that to white supremacists who loudly proclaim to be followers of Jesus, a total contradiction.
St Basil the Great defined sin as the misuse of powers given us by God to do good. We are created for good. We need to seek how to do that every day.
Do we know how to look? When it comes down to it, it is really God who is seeking us. We don’t find God but rather we let God find us. It was not Jesus asking them, but simply inviting them. God does that for us. We need to be open. We need to take some action. The gospel has lots of action words today: see, stay, hear, believe, come, watch. All are ways we ultimately are found by and follow Jesus.
There are other important details in this story. The gospel wants to make a point to say it was four in the afternoon. We often remember the hour when something important happened to us. We remember an important event, what time it was, where we were, that might have changed our lives. 9-11 is an example. Meeting Jesus is the huge life changing moment for the disciples.
In John’s gospel the call comes through someone else: John the Baptist sends Andrew and one more. Andrew calls Peter. Philip calls Nathaniel. The Samaritan woman calls townspeople. Jesus often calls us through others. Who has helped Jesus call you? Is it your turn to call someone?
Take time to stay with Jesus, to listen, to see what He is all about. Creating a home is more than just buying a house. It is a growing in love, listening, a commitment to each other, anticipating needs, being thankful and generous, a sharing of values and faith, that goes beyond the walls. Our home with Jesus, staying with him, becomes the way we live life.
Take time to look for and stay with Jesus, to listen, to see what He is all about. Take time to create a true home this year. Then invite others. Mi casa es su casa!
Fr. David Garcia is a retired priest from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, where he served for 44 years. During that time, Fr. Garcia was instrumental in the effort to have the Old Spanish Missions recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also oversaw the multimillion-dollar restoration of San Fernando Cathedral. Fr. David served as pastor for several parishes in San Antonio, including the historic Mission Concepción. He also served as Senior Advisor for Clergy Outreach at Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian and relief agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.