Second Sunday, 1 Samuel 3:3-19; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20; John 1:35-42.By
Father Timothy P. Schehr
John the Baptist, so
prominent in last Sunday’s feast, appears again in this Sunday’s Gospel. He was
sent by God to testify to the light. And, we see him doing just that as he guides his
disciples toward Jesus. The Baptist’s selfless dedication to God’s plan of
salvation makes him an ideal model of faith.
John identifies Jesus
as "the Lamb of God," a title for the Lord unique to the fourth Gospel. The full
significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God will come to light at the end of His earthly
ministry when He is handed over for crucifixion about the time the Passover lambs are
killed (19:13-16). Also, like the Passover lamb, none of the bones of Jesus are broken
(19:36). These details present Jesus as giving new meaning to the Passover, which now
becomes the hour in which Jesus opens the way to eternal life.
As John’s two
disciples begin to follow Jesus, he turns to speak to them, a detail casting Jesus as the
one who takes the initiative for salvation. We might recall the prologue to John which
tells us the Word became flesh to give believers the power to become children of God.
The two disciples
explain that they want to find out where Jesus is staying. Their request can be taken on
two levels. On one level - the one intended in their request - they want to stay with
Jesus in His earthly place. But, in this Gospel, Jesus has another place with His heavenly
Father. In time, the disciples will learn that Jesus wants them to stay with Him in His
Father’s house (John 14:2).
The witnessing theme
of this Gospel comes to the fore with Andrew’s invitation to his brother Simon. When
Simon is brought to Him, Jesus announces that he will have a new name. In this detail is
the first hint of the dramatic story of Peter’s transformation into an apostle who
would give glory to God by dying as a witness to the Risen Lord. But, that story will be
fully addressed only in the final chapters of the Gospel.
The account of
Samuel’s calling from God connects nicely with the Gospel passage. The young
Samuel’s devotion to God is already apparent in the fact that he sleeps, apparently
by choice, "in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was."
The aged Eli seems
not to be attuned to God. He realizes that God is calling the child only after it has
happened three times. And, in fact, God’s message to Samuel has to do with judgment
against the family of Eli because the old priest at Shiloh gave more honor to his wayward
sons than to the God of Israel (1 Samuel 2:29). But Samuel displays the kind of dedication
required by someone privileged to be chosen as one who speaks God’s word. In time,
Samuel would be the one to steer his people toward God. And, by the time Samuel dies, the
kingdom is ruled by the young and capable King David.
In the second
reading, Paul must remind his headstrong community in Corinth that, because of their faith
in Jesus, they should regard their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. They should
conduct themselves in a way that will give glory to God.
(Father Schehr is a
member of the faculty at the Athenaeum in Cincinnati.)
