John 1:35-42

Lectio (Reading)

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Oratio (Responding)

Anytime that Jesus asks one of His disciples a question, it is a good practice to ask yourself the same question. So “what are you looking for?” Andrew and Peter were drawn to Jesus because of what John said, and they followed Him because of their curiosity, and because they new that john was proclaiming the coming of the messiah.

I think most of us would be just as curious, and would have probably responded in the same way, but today that question has a more poingnant demand on us. So if you are a “seeking” christian today, this question is actually a higher bar. What are you looking for? Are you looking for answers? for peace? for salvation? for everything?

The gospel today makes two calls on us. The first is to understand, what was Jesus saying in the context of the culture at that time…, in the translation of the ancient texts…, and in how those statements are relevant to our lives today. The second call is to be humble enough to allow the gospel to rule your life completely, to accept these teachings as true, to trust that Jesus is indeed God, and to have faith that He will lead, protect, and provide for you, everything you will ever need in this life.

For me this is what it means to be a christian. If I beleive this, then the answer to what I am looking for…, is Jesus! For He is the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father, except by Him. What else could you ever need?

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)