GOSPEL
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd
and Doubleday & Company Inc.
As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi’—which means Teacher—‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’—which means the Christ—and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’—meaning Rock.
(John 1:35–42)
DID YOU KNOW?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- Part of the celebration of the Passover festival was the ritual sacrifice of many lambs so that the Jews could eat the Passover meal. In the story of Exodus, the blood of the lamb was shed so that it could be daubed on doorposts and thus enable the people to escape the angel of death. John recognises that Jesus will be the one to give his life for the sake of all.
- ‘Messiah’ is a Hebrew word that means ‘anointed one’. ‘Christ’ is the Greek word meaning the same thing.
- A disciple is a person who follows a particular teacher and shares his or her views.
EXPLORING THE WORD
The movement in this text is interesting to note. The Baptist and his disciples are standing still while Jesus is passing. John gives witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God, a term not normally used of a person. The disciples exhibit an interest in this man based on John’s witness about him. They move away from John and towards Jesus. It is a movement of faith, although at this point they do not really understand who Jesus is. Jesus asks them a momentous question: ‘What do you want?’ It was normal for a teacher to gather students around him, so these two want to know where he lives so that they might come to hear his teachings. Instead they are invited not just to listen to the teachings, but to share the life of Jesus.
Having entered into this, they recognise that Jesus is more than a teacher and give witness to him themselves: ‘We have found the Messiah.’ They draw others to Jesus, including Simon Peter, who is to become especially important as the story unfolds.
- Did the disciples find the Messiah or did the Messiah find the disciples?
- Did you find God or did God find you?
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Opportunties for group discussion and personal prayer
- ‘What do you want?’ If Jesus were to address this question to you, how would you answer?
- Jesus invites the disciples to ‘come and see’. Are you ready and willing to respond to this invitation?
- Share the story of the first meeting you had with someone who is significant in your life: a spouse or best friend. What was it that initially attracted you to that person? How has your relationship developed and deepened?
- Teaching was an essential aspect of Jesus’ ministry. But his style was not to merely give his listeners the facts but to draw them into sharing his understanding and way of life. When these two disciples of John show interest in his way, Jesus invites them to ‘come and see’—to experience his way at first hand by being with him. Can you see connections with the catechumenate?
- Spend extra time this week with your sponsor and talk about how you are experiencing life with the community. Is there more that needs to be done?
- The response to this week’s psalm is a wonderful prayer of discipleship. Say it often this week:
Here I am, Lord;
I come to do your will.
SHARING THE TRADITION
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God's word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
There are many scriptural texts that give wonderful descriptions of being ‘called’ by God (see Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1; Ezekiel 2; Amos 3:3–8; 7:14–15; Jonah). This could be an appropriate time to look at the concept of vocation in all its richness. Some people are called to the vocation of priesthood or to religious life; others to marriage or to remain single. Whatever vocation we follow in life, we are called to live the Gospel as Jesus invited the disciples to experience his life.
- Invite your parish priest, a brother, a religious sister, a lay couple and a single person to share with the group their call and how they live their vocation each day.
- Catechumens may not understand about the different charisms of different religious congregations. Allow time for answering questions.
- You could emphasise the increasing role that lay people play in the Church as part of their vocation as baptised Christians.
LIVING THE WORD
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
- Highlight the roles available to lay people within your community. Invite catechumens to consider how they may feel called to live the Gospel in your community.
- Use a candle and the open Scriptures as a focus for prayer. A suitable song could be ‘The Summons’ (GA 502). Pray for each other as you respond to the call of Jesus. Pray for all those who are in the process of discerning their vocation as Christians. Conclude with the prayer of exorcism in the RCIA at §94E.