2nd Ordinary “B”

January 15, 2006


“A NOBODY IS A SOMEBODY”

by Paul Rooney


John 1:35-42


Today we have an interesting group of “nobodies.” These people were “nobodies”, but God used them for great purposes. When I say “Nobodies” I am referring to those people on the low end of the pay scale and the low end of the social scale. The most notable thing – in fact, maybe the only notable thing about each one of them was that they were all seeking a closer relationship with God.


The first “nobody” we hear about today is John the Baptist. We tend to think that he was very famous at the time. But that is because we are looking back historically, and we remember that Jesus told us there was no greater prophet than John (Matt 11:11). But while John was acting as prophet, the religious power structure in Jerusalem just ignored him. They even sent some representatives out into the desert to interview him, and find out just Who he was. I don’t think he got invited to any fashionable parties because of his great designer clothes! John lived a simple, poor, humble lifestyle out in the desert. Because of that humility, God was able to make use of him, and his “greatness” lies in the fact that God used him to introduce Jesus to the world as the promised Messiah – which also meant announcing the imminence of the kingdom of God.


A second “nobody” was a man named Andrew. He was a simple fisherman, not someone you would hear anything about on Wall Street or Times Square, or whatever they called those centers of wealth in Jerusalem back in those days. But he was always looking for a better relationship with God. So when John the Baptist pointed out the Lamb of God to Andrew, he immediately started following Jesus. Of course, Jesus noticed that, so he turned to Andrew and his friend, and asked him, “What are you looking for?” And this unpretentious man Andrew then received an invitation to stay with Jesus. Because of Andrew’s humble and open heart, God was able to make use of him. And Andrew served Jesus by bringing the future Leader of the Church to Jesus, Simon (Peter).


A third “nobody” was Jesus. “Hey, isn’t he just a carpenter’s son? Well, I’ll tell you, he has to pass my own tests first, before I’ll accept him as the Messiah, or as Divine!” I find it interesting that every day we pray the Lord’s Prayer, asking Him not to put Us to the test. But many still put Jesus to Their Own tests! Jesus didn’t pass the so-called “test” of the religious establishment of his time. But the incredible humility of the Incarnation makes us recognize that there is only one test: the test of Faith!


Do you see the pattern here? God doesn’t look for the rich, the powerful, or the successful people to use as his instruments. He definitely has a plan for mankind. But the kind of people he wants to be His agents are individuals with a humble heart, persons who are constantly seeking a better relationship with God, and who want to carry the Good News to Others. God can work miracles through persons like that!


And you teenagers, take note!


If you need more proof from scripture, there are many examples. Samuel from the First Reading (1 Sam 3, 3-10, 19) was just a kid, sleeping in the Temple, when God called him. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that anyone who sleeps in the Temple near the Ark of the Covenant must have desired a closer relationship to God! This teenager was chosen by God to become one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament era.


Then there was another kid, born in Bethlehem just like Jesus. When he was just a teenager, he was anointed by Samuel to become King of Israel, even though he was the youngest of 12 boys. His name was David. Among many things, David was humble enough to be useful to God by teaching us how to pray with a sincere heart. We have many psalms attributed to him which express this sincerity and desire to draw closer to God.


Then there was still another young teenager who had a closer relationship to God than anyone. She was poor, humble, and lived a simple life. God chose her to bring the Messiah into the world! This teenager’s name was Mary.


I started out by identifying three nobodies for you, but there is still a fourth “nobody” that I haven’t mentioned yet. That “nobody” is sitting out there in the pews with you. I hope it is You! My prayer is that this Church be filled with nobodies, people who desire a closer life with God, people who want to be used to help fulfill God’s plan of salvation.


If we don’t already have the necessary humility needed to be useful to God, then we need to do what all good little “nobodies” did in Jesus time, and still do. They spend time with God in prayer, and keep seeking God. We need to accept Jesus’ constant invitation to “come and see” where he lives. Out of that seeking will come a sure sense of mission, of what God wants us to do. And your experience will end the same way as that of Andrew, who joyfully told Peter, “We have found the Messiah. Come and see!” Good News must be shared! BY YOU!

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Notes:


(Comments to Paul at mailto:deaconpaul@cox.net.)

Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

(For additional illustrations of this topic, you might consider Emily Dickinson's poem I'm nobody! Who are you? or Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, And Nobody.)