John 1:35-42

1 Samuel 3-3b-10, 19

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-9, 8-9, 10

1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20

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 Jesus 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 God, you have called me by name to enter into your holy dwelling. I do so during this time of prayer. I only want to be with you and learn your will for me. Help me to be faithful to your love and bring others to encounter you today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Samuel’s Encounter with the Lord: The First Reading narrates Samuel’s encounter with the Lord in the sanctuary at Shiloh. Samuel heard God’s call and, prompted by Eli, invited God to speak to him. Samuel’s encounter with the Lord God in the sanctuary at Shiloh confirms the prophecy made to Eli by an unnamed prophet that his corrupt priestly line will fail and the priesthood will be given to a “faithful priest” (1 Samuel 2:35). This prophecy of a faithful priest is first fulfilled in Zadok but ultimately it looks forward to Jesus Christ, the faithful and merciful high priest. While Eli’s line served as priests in a moveable tent, Zadok’s line served as priests in a solid sanctuary. Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas were unfaithful and took advantage of their position. They were greedy and abusive. Samuel will prophesy the fall of both Eli the priest and Saul the king. While Eli has nothing to do with kings, Samuel understands that the future faithful priest will signal the advent of a new priestly and monarchical order, for the new priest ‘shall go in and out before my anointed one [‘my Messiah,’ ‘my Christ’] forever” (1 Samuel 2:35).

2. Encounter with the Lamb of God: The Gospel narrates the encounter of two of John the Baptist’s disciples – Andrew and most likely John – with Jesus. They are eager to follow Jesus and see where Jesus dwells. Thus, there is a deep connection between the First Reading and the Gospel insofar as Samuel abides in the sanctuary at Shiloh, while John and Andrew abide with Jesus, the New Temple. Samuel will be called by God to bring the people of Israel to God and will appoint Saul and David as the first kings of Israel. Jesus, by contrast, is called by God to bring all nations to God and will appoint Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John as the leaders of the New Israel. In many ways, Samuel anticipates the figure of John the Baptist. Just as Samuel anointed David in Bethlehem as king, John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and identified him as the mighty one and the Lamb of God. Simon, Peter Andrew, and John will all be made priests of Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist points out the Lamb of God, he does not point to a physical lamb that is slaughtered in the Temple by the high priest. He points to Jesus who is the definitive and new Lamb of God. This points to the transformation of the Temple sacrifices. The liturgy of the Old Covenant – with its ineffective animal sacrifices – will be brought to fulfillment in the liturgy of the New Covenant – with the effective sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Andrew and Simon Peter, along with John the Apostle, will be consecrated by Jesus as his priests. In the New Covenant, the priesthood will no longer be restricted to the descendants of Aaron and the high priesthood will not be reserved to the descendants of Zadok. Priesthood in the New Covenant is connected to a call from Jesus and to abiding with Jesus. An Apostle is one who is called to be with Jesus and to be sent out. This is exemplified by Andrew, who spends an afternoon with Jesus, and then immediately goes out to find his brother, Simon, and lead him to Jesus. Simon is given a new Aramaic name “Cephas,” which means “rock.” With the other Apostles, Simon Peter will be a foundation for the Church of Jesus.

3. We are Members of Christ’s Body: In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul contemplates the members of the Church as members of the Body of Christ and our bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are not made for immorality and sin. We have been purchased and redeemed by the blood shed by the Lamb of God on the cross. Since we have been redeemed by the Lord, our bodies now belong to the Lord and, by faith, we know that the Lord God will raise us up. Therefore, we are not to sin with our bodies but are to give glory to God in our bodies. 

Conversing with Christ: You are my God. I have seen how you called Samuel, Andrew, John, and Peter. You did not force them to follow you. No, you extended an invitation that they were free to accept or reject. And so, I stand before you today willing to follow you, ready to do your will and not my own. To do your will, O God, is my delight.

Resolution: We glorify God through our following of Jesus, our abiding with him, and through the liturgy of the New Covenant. Christian liturgy is not only the celebration of divine worship, it is also the proclamation of the Good News of Salvation and the announcement of the active work of charity. We are called to serve both God and our neighbor. In the liturgy, the Church shares in Christ’s priesthood (worship), which is both prophetic (proclamation) and kingly (service of charity) (CCC, 1070). How will I worship God today by proclaiming the Gospel and by spreading Christ’s love?