Reading I: 1 Sam 3: 3b-10, 19Psalm: 40
Reading II: 1 Corinthians
6:13c-16a, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is with two of his disciples when Jesus passes by. Again John points to Jesus, calling him the “Lamb of God.” He is encouraging his disciples to follow Jesus. What does it mean to “follow Jesus”?
This week’s message is about the call to follow Jesus. It is also World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Both of these themes brought back to my mind an experience I had many years ago.
Back in the 70’s the “boat people,” drifting in the waters off the coast of Cambodia, were refugees from China. I was an instructor and campus minister at Aquinas College, Newton, Massachusetts, at the time. An interfaith group in Newton felt the call to go beyond just feeling bad about the plight of the refugees, to adopting a family and bringing them to America.
There was a combined effort on the behalf of the Catholic College and the local Protestant Churches. The College provided an empty house on its campus which became a welcome home for the family. The Protestant churches helped by providing medical help, clothing, food and other needs until the family had settled in and had jobs which enabled them to care for themselves.
As the campus minister, I enlisted some of the students to become Big Sisters to the children. They helped them to learn English and provided friendship and some recreational activities for them. The response to the call to action was a blessing for both those who gave and those who received.
Today, the refugee families are doing well and are wonderful contributing citizens of our Nation. One woman and her husband own their own restaurant and employ others. They are forever grateful. After all these years, each Christmas, I still received a card and gifts from them.
Knowing the character of Jesus, what do you think Jesus would ask his disciples to do in today’s situations? It is almost overwhelming to even consider all the needs which surround us. Each of us has different gifts, circumstances, and limitations. We need to ask the Lord what he wants of us, observe the needs around us, listen intently, and respond accordingly.
Reflection Question: In your circumstances, what is the Lord calling you to do?
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
¡Aquí estoy, Señor!
En el Evangelio de hoy, Juan el Bautista está con dos de sus discípulos cuando Jesús pasa. Una vez más, Juan señala a Jesús, llamándolo el “Cordero de Dios”. Él está alentando a sus discípulos a seguir a Jesús. ¿Qué significa “seguir a Jesús”?
El mensaje de esta semana es sobre el llamado a seguir a Jesús. También es el Día Mundial de los Migrantes y los Refugiados. Ambos temas me trajeron a la memoria una experiencia que tuve hace muchos años.
En los años 70, la “gente de los botes”, a la deriva en las aguas de la costa de Camboya, eran refugiados de China. Fui instructor y ministro del campus en Aquinas College, Newton, Massachusetts, en ese momento. Un grupo interreligioso en Newton sintió el llamado a ir más allá de sentirse mal por la difícil situación de los refugiados, a adoptar una familia y llevarlos a Estados Unidos.
Hubo un esfuerzo combinado en nombre del Colegio Católico y las Iglesias Protestantes locales. El Colegio proporcionó una casa vacía en su campus que se convirtió en un hogar bienvenido para la familia. Las iglesias protestantes ayudaron brindando ayuda médica, ropa, alimentos y otras necesidades hasta que la familia se asentó y tuvo trabajos que les permitieron cuidarse a sí mismos.
Como ministra del campus, alisté a algunos de los estudiantes para que se convirtieran en Hermanas Grande para los niños. Los ayudaron a aprender inglés y les brindaron amistad y algunas actividades recreativas para ellos. La respuesta al llamado a la acción fue una bendición para los que dieron y los que recibieron.
Hoy, las familias de refugiados están bien y son ciudadanos maravillosos que contribuyen con nuestra Nación. Una mujer y su esposo tienen su propio restaurante y emplean a otros. Ellos están eternamente agradecidos. Después de todos estos años, cada Navidad, todavía recibí una tarjeta y regalos de ellos.
Conociendo el carácter de Jesús, ¿qué crees que Jesús le pediría a sus discípulos que hicieran en las situaciones de hoy? Es casi abrumador incluso considerar todas las necesidades que nos rodean. Cada uno de nosotros tiene diferentes dones, circunstancias y limitaciones. Necesitamos preguntarle al Señor qué quiere de nosotros, observar las necesidades que nos rodean, escuchar atentamente y responder en consecuencia.
Pregunta de reflexión: En tus circunstancias, ¿qué te está llamando el Señor a hacer?
What a marvelously inspiring story about the immigrants! A real, ideal reason to rejoice! Thank you for sharing it, sister.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpts are from a message delivered through the Association of Catholic Priests in connection with the liturgy for this Sunday:
"It's good to appreciate the people who opened doors for us in life. Perhaps at a crucial moment in our lives they pointed us in the right direction. They were an influence for good on us. Maybe they shared with us some good they possessed or allowed us to benefit from an experience they had or some discovery they made."
"That is how John the Baptist is portrayed in the Gospel reading this Sunday. He recognized Jesus as a very special revelation of God's love. Far from keeping that discovery to himself, he shared it with his own disciples, even if it meant losing them to Jesus. By pointing them in the direction of Jesus, he opened a door for them...A little later, one of John's disciples, Andrew,
did for his brother what the Baptist had done for him. He led his brother to Jesus."
"In the First Reading, Eli did something similar for Samuel, helping him to hear God's call. The readings this Sunday put before us three people, Eli, John the Baptist, and Andrew, each of whom, in different ways, pointed others in the right direction, led others to the One Who is the source of life."
"At any time in our adult life, we can meet a John the Baptist kind of person who points out some vital truth. That can happen to us over and over again, right up to the very end of our lives. The Lord never ceases to call us through others into a deeper relationship with Himself. Indeed, there can come a time when the Lord asks any one of us to be a John the Baptist or an Andrew or an Eli for somebody else. He may call us to share our faith in some simple way, to open a door to the Lord for others. Our response to the call can take many forms. For Eli, it took the form of helping the younger son, Samuel, to find the right words for his prayer. To Andrew, it took the form of sharing a significant experience with his brother. The readings this Sunday invite us to be open to the many ways the Lord can show us Himself and also the ways that He may be calling us to help Him in drawing others to Himself."
"At any time in our adult life
I felt as though Jesus was talking directly to me when he asked the question “What are you looking for?” To be honest, I never really “heard” this question from this Gospel before. Perhaps grasping it today is an indication of spiritual maturation, for desiring a close relationship with Jesus really matters at this point of my life. God assures us that those who seek Him will find Him. I can only conclude that I have not done much active seeking through decades of busy years and at the same time I recognize that “seeking” is a lifetime vocation. The accumulation of distracted years, filled with joys and sorrows, wounds received and inflicted, recognition of my own weakness, vulnerability and brokenness, has led me to the realization that there is neither anything nor any person that can satisfy the longing I find myself experiencing. I likewise believe that the discontent I feel will lead me to fruitful “twilight years,” as I embark on imminent retirement from the workforce and step into a new chapter of life.
ReplyDeleteFr. Daniel Groody, CSC, writes, “When Jesus first sees John’s disciples in today’s Gospel, he asks them about their heart’s desires: ‘What are you looking for?’ In turn they ask him a question, about where he dwells, where he lives in his innermost heart.” I’m thinking that it’s the call of my heart driving my desire for an intimate relationship with Jesus. As I’m writing this post, I have before me a book entitled, “Discerning the Voice of God,” written by Priscilla Shirer. I have not yet started reading it but I perused through it quickly and noticed that obedience is a big part of the process. Fear of being obedient to God may have been part of my reluctance to truly seek Him. In the past I have associated obedience with self-denial which put a negative spin on it for me. As a child if I was not obedient I suffered painful consequences. The author hints that obedience to God leads to freedom. I’m hoping for a change of perspective surrounding obedience. I’d like to surrender to God’s will from a place of authentic love rather than fear. I’m looking forward to the passage and to journeying with Jesus. “Discipleship begins with dwelling in Christ,” states Fr. Groody, and “entering the place of his loving embrace, staying under the gaze of his tender mercy. It involves living with a heart open to love, a heart willing to change, a heart ready to serve, a heart disposed to pray.”
Thank you also, Sr. Annette, for drawing our awareness to the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his Christmas homily Pope Francis reminded us of the plight of Mary and Joseph, “They arrived in Bethlehem and experienced that it was a land that was not expecting them. A land where there was no place for them.” Fast forward to today, “So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary. We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones. In many cases this departure is filed with hope, hope for the future; yet for many others this departure can only have one name: survival. Surviving the Herods of today, who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood.” God must certainly weep at our inhumanity. One of the charities I like to contribute to is Mercy Corps. This organization provides protection, food and cash to refugees caught between the war they left behind and an uncertain future. This year Mercy Corps designed a calendar which each month tells the story of a refugee family. I decided to hold the featured family in daily prayer for that month. A very small gesture yet it connects me to their situation and my prayers are offered for their strength, courage, safety and achievement of the better tomorrow they seek. Peace and Blessings to all, Pat C., ASBS