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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

Sunday 2nd (B) in Ordinary Time

View 1st Reading and Psalm
1st Reading (1Sam 3:3b-10.19): Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, «Here I am». Samuel ran to Eli and said, «Here I am. You called me». «I did not call you», Eli said. «Go back to sleep». So he went back to sleep. Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. «Here I am», he said. «You called me». But Eli answered, «I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep».

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, «Here I am. You called me». Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, «Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’».

When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, «Samuel, Samuel!». Samuel answered, «Speak, for your servant is listening». Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Responsorial Psalm: 39
R/. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, «Behold I come».

«In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!».

I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, o Lord, know.
2nd Reading (1Cor 6:13c-15a.17-20): Brothers and sisters: The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.
Versicle before the Gospel (Jn 1:41.17b): Alleluia. We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace. Alleluia.
Gospel text (Jn 1,35-42): As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus walked by, John looked at him and said, «There is the Lamb of God». On hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. He turned and saw them following, and He said to them, «What are you looking for?». They answered, «Rabbi (which means Master), where are you staying?». Jesus said, «Come and see». So they went and saw where he stayed and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what John had said and followed Jesus. Early the next morning he found his brother Simon and said to him, «We have found the Messiah» (which means the Christ), and he brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, «You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called Cephas» (which means Rock).

«Rabbi (which means Master), where are you staying?»

Fr. Lluís RAVENTÓS i Artés (Tarragona, Spain)

Today, we can see Jesus coming by the banks of the river Jordan: it is Christ walking by! It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, when noticing two young men following him, He asks them «What are you looking for?» (Jn 1:38). And, surprised at the question, they answer «‘Rabbi (which means Master), where are you staying?’. ‘Come and see’» (Jn 1:39).

I am also following Jesus, but… what do I want? what am I seeking? He is who asks me: «Truly, what do you want?». O! if I would only be courageous enough to tell him: «I am seeking you, Jesus», most surely I would have already found him, «For the one who seeks, finds» (Mt 7:8). But I am such a coward and always reply with words not too engaging: «Where are you staying?». But Jesus does not simply put up with my answer; He knows but too well that I do not just need a lot of words, but a friend, The Friend: Him. This is why He tells me: «Come and see», «come and you will see it».

John and Andrew, the two young fishermen, followed him and «saw where He stayed and spent the rest of that day with him» (Jn 1:39). Overwhelmed by this encounter, John will be able to write: «Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ» (Jn 1:17b). And Andrew? He will run to meet his brother to tell him: «We have found the Messiah» (Jn 1:41). «And he brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called Cephas’ (which means Rock)» (Jn 1:42).

A rock!, Simon, a rock? Not one of them is able to understand those words. They do not know Jesus has come to build his own Church with living stones. He has already chosen the first two bricks, John and Andrew, and he has decided that Simon will be the rock upon which the whole building will stand.

And, before going to his Father, he will answer our question: «Rabbi, where are you staying?». While blessing his Church, He will answer: «And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age» (Mt 28,20).

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