WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

HOMILY FOR THE 2^ND SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Onyekachi

The business of Jesus was a very serious one, and that is why it was sought after by serious persons. Jesus in the Gospel (John 1:35-42) knew how expensive his work was to be that he had to put the question to the disciples of John the Baptist who would become his: who do you seek? (who are you looking for?). After John must have borne series of witnesses about Jesus, and after the disciples of John must have wished to become identified with this man of whom their master, John was talking about, it finally came to that very day when these disciples got the chance to follow Jesus. Certain points come to mind considering this question of Jesus to these disciples.

1. The question of Jesus to them about what they seek is somewhat striking. What do you seek refers to a thing. If they were actually following Jesus to know him, Jesus should have framed his question as such: who do you seek? But to show that they were fascinated by the personality of this ‘new prophet’ who John admits of being nothing to compare with him, and that this fascination may have led them to desire to share in his glories and publicity. And so, by asking this question, Jesus tends to tell them that they are looking for a thing in Him, instead of to look for who he is, which John had earlier on told them (John 1:34). It is true that a number of things can draw us towards God, but we must realize that not a number of things can keep us in God. The search for miracles can draw you to God, but it can never keep you. What keeps you is your self-discovery in God, and your knowledge of the identity of God.

2. This question of Jesus can also be read from the optics of an invitation to conversation. As we look for Jesus, Jesus is eager to also look for us. In this passage is the great eagerness in Jesus to reach out to men. He made the first step when these disciples were merely following him. The disciples may have nurtured some fears in them regarding how to start conversation with Jesus, but Jesus solved this problem for them by being proactive. Remember that the story goes that Jesus turned to speak to them. This showed a high level of willingness to allow them join him and engage in a conversation with him. He knew their hearts were already stirred to meet with him. Jesus knows us and our intent steps. All we need do is to respond and converse with him when he asks us a question. All we need do is to stay connected.

3. It may not matter how you got converted. What matters is how you stay converted. Thanks to God that the disciples of John went further to show that they desired to be with Jesus the more. The question of Andrew and the unnamed disciple (most probably John) about where Jesus lives is a clear sign that they never wanted a roadside conversation. They needed a life changing one. Jesus allowed them, and they spent an ample time with him. They remained with Jesus. After the answer to the call comes the action to be with Jesus and listen to him. They showed that they came to stay irrespective of the fascination that brought them. They were asking to join him in the quietness of his home to open and pour out their hearts to him, and for him to really become their teacher. Surely, they called him Rabbi. Our calling demands great discipline. One cannot learn without discipline. We need to stay at a place to purify ourselves so as to purify others.

4. And Andrew rushed to tell Peter the fascinating experience they had made. Our call requires us to help call others. Immediately Peter arrived, Jesus exposed to them the kind of mission that they would undergo. It was a rocky one. This mission requires a change of name. And Jesus uses the same Peter as a point of contact for others. And if in case, their initial intention is jacquard, Jesus by this purified it. Thus, the renaming of Simon, the son of Jonah to Peter can also be a sort of a purification of intention and a redirection of path to its proper focus. This renaming ceremony shows that Peter (together with others) now has a mission to accomplish after having been called. Come and See!!! This was the reply Jesus gave to the two disciples (Andrew and Peter) of John the Baptist who asked him where he was staying. In these words we find the meaning of vocation (cf. Pastores Dabor Vobis, 34). He was called (vocation), and he has to get the necessary preparation for this mission. Having kept ourselves in Jesus, we are not only prepared to stay, but prepared for mission. Every Christian has a mission inherent in his/her calling. Vocation presupposes mission.

5. The call of Samuel in the First Reading (1Sam. 3:3b-10, 19) is a clear exemplification of God’s call and mission as it brings our another peculiar character in vocations. Unlike the disciples in the Gospel who had already been told by John about who Jesus was, Samuel as at the time of his calling was unfamiliar with the nature of God’s call. He was then directed by Eli on what to do. Actually, someone can assist us to answer the call of God. It was not Eli calling, it was God calling. The role of Eli was to direct Samuel to a proper answer. There are many Elis of today. This reminds them that they are directors and not callers. It is only God who calls. The formators in the Catholic Senior Seminary are directors. The Bishops and Superiors are directors. Only God calls. All we need do as directors is to direct well. Those being called by God are to be told how to answer and what to answer. If the directors of today fail in this, think of how disastrous the response to the call of God would be. If Eli had not directed Samuel properly, think of how Israel would have lost such a great Prophet. Samuel was not the biological son of Eli, yet Eli did not grow jealous of that call to an extent of misdirecting the young Samuel. He still did his job well. As directors today, we must do our job in sincerity regardless of whose ox is gored. There should be no nepotism or favouritism. We must allow God to call and not impose our whims and caprices on him.

6. And finally, we need to ask ourselves: what are we looking for? There is an attitude that is exhibited by anyone who is searching for an important thing or person. This attitude is one of restlessness. The mind does not seem to be calm until the person finds what or who is been sort for. And indeed, one of the yardsticks for measuring one is looking for something in seriousness. One must go beyond the normal attitude he/she has to put on an attitude that befits seriousness. A boy was narrating a story of how he converted his weakness to become his strength. According to him, he was shy and inclined to staying indoors. He would rather stay indoors, singing and dancing on his own rather than go out to sing and dance to avoid being ridiculed. Surely, he was gifted in music. One day, a visitor advised him to consider going to the studio to produce a musical album for the happiness of others, not only for his. After several insistences, he managed to produce an album. And then came afterwards the real challenge: how do I market this album? He found it difficult to meet several marketers as the few he met trivialized his musical acumen. He was then forced out of himself. He had thought to himself: I can be my own marketer. He took to the streets. He was going around, playing the music, as many passersby and travellers patronized. As someone who was looking for the popularity of his album, he was made even more serious than he was. A shy person became a marketer, and a good one for that matter that almost all who heard him advertise his product were forced to patronize him. Every serious endeavour involves a breaking of shell. One has to seriously look for it before he/she can have it. It is not got on a platter of gold.

If you seek excellence, be disciplined. If you seek love, give love. If you seek success, embrace hard work. If you seek Christ, be ready to ask him where he stays. Be with him, listen to him, and work for him. Only so can you live forever with him. do have a blessed week. God bless you.