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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say (this), and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, ‘What are you looking for (Τί ζητεῖτε)?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.” (Jn 1: 35-40)
Andrew already had a great teacher, St. John the Baptist. But still, he hadn’t found what he was looking for. And John the Baptist does what great teachers do, not clinging to “his” disciples but pointing them in the right direction, to find their true vocation.
Christ greets them with an important question: “What are you looking for?” – to which they have no real response, but another question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Some commentators suggest that this response meant that they only wanted to know where to find Him in the future, (similar to our custom of asking for someone’s business card), but did not expect to stick around more, at this point. But Christ invites them to come right over; to “come and see” more.
As we prepare to celebrate the great feast of the Transfiguration tomorrow (NC), I’m thinking that the feast itself is an invitation to come over to His place, and “see.” In preparation for this feast, I think it’s helpful to hear the Lord ask us, once again, “What are you looking for?” (I’ll add inappropriately that this makes me think of the Lionel Richie song, “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”) Let me come over to “His place,” once again, – whether I’m able to be in church for the upcoming feast or not, and let me visit with Him in some heartfelt prayer, that I may not wander about on my own, but see the things God has to show me today. Thank You, Lord, for calling us, again and again, to “come and see.”
