Second Sunday of Ordinary Time- Gospel Reflection

In today’s Gospel we hear the account of Jesus calling Peter according to John. This account differences from the synoptic Gospels because John portrays Andrew and Simon as followers of John and not off the coastline fishing. John doesn’t say that they aren’t fishermen but rather chooses to focus on the fact they were followers of John the Baptist. Why is this significant? Well it shows that they are longing for the truth, they want a relationship with God and partaking in a baptism of repentance was the first place to begin. Many early Christians would have been Jewish men who were taken in by John the Baptist and baptized under the promise of repentance. Andrew and Simon were no different, they wanted something more.

We see John the Baptist identify Jesus to them as Lamb of God. Christ unknown to anyone except the father is a scapegoat, someone who is going to be blamed for everything. Christ is going to bear the burden of sins he didn’t commit in order to better our lives. The Romans are going to accuse him of heresy and crimes against the empire, leader of these revolts, something else he didn’t do. So we see the Gospel writers use Lamb of God because a lamb has a more positive attitude when thought of as a goat, it illustrates the innocence of Christ.

Here we have Andrew and Simon chasing after God’s beloved son and Jesus turns around and says “What are you looking for?” Now I don’t know about you but the correct answer is salvation, happiness, keys to the kingdom (get it?... I’ll continue), holiness. Maybe Simon and Andrew don’t know what they want, all they know is this man is a rabbi and their beloved prophet just called him the Lamb of God. By asking where he was staying they want to show their intent to follow him on an intimate level. 

So what are we looking for? If Christ walked in front of you would you notice? Or are your ties to this world still too strong. Ask him today for clarity to hear his voice and to unchain ourselves from this world. May we appreciate what he did for us and we give everything back to him today.

God Bless,
Jonathan Molik

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