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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily Code: CC-1 "Behold, the Lamb of God." What inspired John to say these words? Was it something he saw in our Lord’s eyes? Or, perhaps it was an inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Whatever it was, it was done with great conviction. So much so, that John’s loyal followers were willing to leave him and go after Jesus. But go after what? This passage of John’s Gospel is so rich in meaning and symbolism that it bears much scrutiny. So lets begin. When Jesus notices the two would-be disciples following him, he turns and asks, "What are you looking for?" A few years ago, there were billboards that asked the same question. Then after a period of time, new signs would reveal that "We found it." These were a church’s attempt at the importance of proclaiming a new found relationship with Jesus Christ. If you were asked this philosophical question today what would your answer be? Happiness? Peace? Fulfillment? Riches? Something to believe in? I knew a young girl who was madly in love with her boyfriend and wanted to get married. She did not have a religious background, and her family was very anti-Catholic. When her Catholic boyfriend told her he wanted to marry her and asked her if she would consider learning about the Catholic faith, she readily agreed saying, "Yes, because I want to have what you have." She saw how important his faith was to him and how much it affected his life. He had a peace and assurance about things that she wanted to possess. While he did not have much money, he seemed to be contented and fulfilled in what he was and what he did. He was a reflection of his faith and she wanted to be part of it. I think that is what Andrew and Philip wanted when they left their friend John to follow Jesus. Like us they wanted to live life to the fullest. They wanted life itself. They wanted something or someone to believe in. Jesus’ magnetism seemed to draw them in. Why? Because they were looking for him. The same is true today! God will reveal himself to those of us who are on the lookout for him. Our answer to our Lord’s question, "What are you looking for?", would probably be very similar to theirs, "Show me." Our Lord is always inviting us to "come and see." We are all born with an instinctive desire and abiding longing to find true happiness and fulfillment in this life. The message proclaimed in this Gospel insists that all that any human being can and does desire, seek, long for, try to win, work to possess-all the true and abiding longing of the human heart, in any age and in every generation-find its only true fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus told the two disciples to "come and see", he invites us not only to come and see, but to stay as well. However, when we seek the Lord and find comfort and peace in his presence, we open ourselves up to his calling. Staying with Jesus is not a stagnant thing. Just the opposite is true. The immediate result of an encounter with Jesus is an urgency to "evangelize." Andrew couldn’t wait to tell his brother Peter that he had found the Messiah; and later Philip couldn’t wait to tell Nathaniel about it. The same will be true for us. The Second Vatican Council tells us that we are all called to evangelize-to present the Good News of life to all who will hear. It is our mutual responsibility to help people by asking the same question our Lord asked, "Who are you looking for?" Let us pray that this Eucharist today will give us the insight and strength we need to do the Lord’s bidding. Let those we encounter daily know that we are Christians by our love. Let our families know that we are Christians by our love. Let us be able to proclaim without hesitation and with great conviction, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
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