John 1:35-42

1 John 3:7-10

Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9

John 1:35-42

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord, you invite me each day to come and stay with you. That is what I truly desire. I only want to be with you and dwell with you all the days of my life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. They Remained with Jesus: The Gospel of John tells us how two of John the Baptist’s disciples, Andrew and most likely the Apostle John, followed Jesus and asked him about where he was staying. The word “staying” has a deep meaning in John’s Gospel. It is the same word as remaining or abiding. The two disciples of John saw where Jesus was staying and abided with him that day. This is a wonderful image of the Christian life. It is so much more than imitating Jesus. It is about entering into true communion with Jesus, him abiding in us and we in him. We see the great effect of abiding with Jesus. The two disciples want others to come and experience Jesus in person. Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus. And Jesus immediately changes Simon’s name to “Cephas,” the Aramaic word for “rock.” In fact, the name “Peter” is the Greek word for “rock,” and upon this rock, Jesus builds his Church (see Matthew 16:18). 

2. Acting as Children of God: Like the Gospel of John, the First Letter of John loves contrasts. Today’s contrast is between those who show they are children and slaves of the devil by persisting in serious sin and those who show they are true children of God by acting in righteousness. For John, acting in righteousness means loving God and neighbor. As Catholics, we do not hold that we are made righteous through faith alone. Although our initial justification, which places us in a right relationship with God, is by faith and is unmerited, we need our initial faith to flourish in loving works of righteousness so as to attain the vision of God in heaven. This means that although we do not merit the initial gift of sanctifying grace, we are called to merit the glory of heaven through works of love empowered by divine grace.

3. Act in Righteousness: Acting in righteousness is possible because, as children of God, we have been given sanctifying grace and the infused virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Grace abides in our soul and makes us sharers in divine life. Faith abides in our mind and elevates it to truths that exceed our natural capacity. Hope resides in our will and makes us actively tend toward God. Charity abides in our will and unites us to God imperfectly in this life and perfectly in the next. Empowered by divine grace and disposed by the infused virtues, we can act righteously and merit eternal life!

Conversing with Christ: Lord, where are you staying? You are staying in the tabernacle and I can visit you. You are in the poor and I can serve you. You are in the hungry and I can feed you. You are in the hospital and I can visit you. You are in my heart and I can be with you.

Resolution: At the end of each day, it is good to look back and see where we failed and possibly sinned and where we truly acted as children of God. On the one hand, we should humbly ask forgiveness for our faults and seek to experience God’s mercy. On the other, we should thank God for the good things we accomplished today through his grace. This daily practice can help us remain united to God in love and truly act as his children.