Homily on the 2nd Sunday in O.T.; 14 January 2024, SJB Parish, Cotcot, Liloan
Just a few days ago in Cebu City the Novena to Senyor Santo Nino opened with the traditional Dawn Procession called “Walk with Jesus”. Various news reports were one in pointing out that as many as 200,000 people joined this year’s opening salvo. It’s really something so impressive! I remember some years ago even before the pandemic I was blessed to have been able to join this procession from Fuente Osmena Circle up to the Basilica together with our Prenovices each one of us holding lighted candles. It was not yet the fiesta, and yet we already felt the festive mood and atmosphere made so warm and so joyful by the countless number of devotees that walked with us singing and praying all along the way. And when we found ourselves walking near the image of Senyor Santo Nino we suddenly felt as though we were really walking along side Jesus in the middle of a vast crowd of his disciples.
What was even more impressive is that even when it started to rain we noticed that no one ever moved out of the procession to seek shelter at the side of the street. Those who brought umbrellas simply opened them and those without, just continued walking and praying unmindful of the rain. Amazing, isn’t? Finally when we reached the Basilica we stayed with Him for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. For me that eventful experience was simply awesome. How I wish I could do it for another time someday soon.
Today we begin the series of Sundays in the ordinary time of the Church. The gospel we have heard today narrates for us the call of the first disciples of Jesus, particularly Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. The passage says that, at the Jordan River, when Andrew and another friend heard John the Baptist’s voice telling them “Behold, the Lamb of God” and they saw him pointing out to Jesus, they left their master and started to follow Jesus. They even saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.
Similarly the next day when Simon heard Andrew speak to him about Jesus saying “We have found the Messiah” he too went to see Jesus and started following him. And at that moment Jesus gave to Simon his new name, Cephas, which is translated as Peter.
What is it that is so remarkable about this story? Allow me to share four points for our reflection and consideration.
First of all, Jesus passed by unnoticed by those two disciples. He must have been a very simple man from Nazareth. When he arrived at the Jordan River, he was simply lost like any other Jew in the crowd who came to be baptized by John. But the good news is that someone noticed him. Someone led by the Spirit was enabled to recognize him. It was John the Baptist. And so as he watched Jesus walk by, moved by the Spirit, he immediately said “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
This invites us to reflect: Are our eyes wide open and our hearts so filled by the Spirit that we can easily see and recognize Jesus walking in our midst and powerfully at work through the simple people who do good to us? If not, I guess we need to ask the Lord to grant us the same eyes and the same heart of John the Baptist so that we may be able to perceive the real presence of Jesus especially in the Eucharist and the Sacraments we celebrate, as well as in the people who serve our needs..
Second point: Andrew and the other disciple were actually followers of John the Baptist. They were devout and hope-filled Jews who were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. But they must have been so preoccupied with what they were doing that at that moment they failed to recognize Jesus walking passed in front of them. But the good news is that at least their ears were open. And being attentive to the voice of God they heard John the Baptist speak. And seeing him pointing his hand to Jesus, they responded quickly and began to follow not anymore John but Jesus.
Let us reflect: Are the ears of our hearts fully open and attentive to God’s Word that we have no difficulty hearing him speak to us everyday assuring us of his love and prompting us to follow his commands? If not, then I guess we need to ask for his grace to make us so perceptive that we can easily hear him speaking to us through our pastors, through our parents, or maybe through our children, the poor and the needy. I believe He continues to call us to follow Him more closely and commit ourselves more generously in the service of God and his Church.
Third point: The first two disciples’ meeting with Jesus that day made such a big impact on them that they decided to stay with him. After that intimate bonding they felt that their hearts were full and they could not forget even the time when they met Jesus. It was about four in the afternoon.
And so let us try to reflect: Do we have good memories of our encounter with Jesus especially in the liturgy? Do we spend some quality time with him as part of our day or of our busy week because we value our friendship with him? Do we try to journal or keep an account of our meaningful bonding moments with him? If not, I believe it’s high time that we do so.
Fourth and last point: After that unforgettable experience, Andrew just could not contain the strong feeling within him. I guess he couldn’t but smile as he never did before and couldn’t wait to share excitedly with his brother Simon everything that happened that day regarding his life-changing encounter with Jesus. In other words, he instantly became another John the Baptist by pointing his hand to Jesus saying to his brother “We have found the Messiah.” Andrew’s sharing must have kindled the fire in his Simon Peter’s heart that he too became so eager to see Jesus and meet him face to face.
On this regard let us reflect: Have we ever tried sharing with others not only our material blessings but more importantly also our beautiful God-filled experiences? Have we become brave enough to bring others to the Lord or invite them to encounter Jesus who is the true longing of every heart; the one who alone can fill a heart to overflowing?
Brothers and sisters, the liturgy we celebrate today is making us realize that our Christian life is really a vocation. Now what is the meaning of the word vocation? While google dictionary would define “vocation” as “a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation,” the word actually comes from the Latin verb “vocare” which means “to call.” And so if someone especially a Catholic like us feels strongly suitable for a particular career, job or profession, just like for example becoming a priest, a nun, a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a nurse or a caregiver, despite all the difficulties and challenges attached to such a profession, then that feeling must be coming from an inner voice calling him to accept that job, career or profession. We Catholics believe that inner voice is no other than God’s voice.
Nevertheless let us keep this in mind: whether we become priests, nuns, teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, caregivers, architects or engineers, today’s liturgy is telling that we all are called to become saints, that is, to follow Jesus more closely and eventually become more and more like him, for Jesus became everything in this world for love of us in order to bring us back to the Father.
Let us in this Holy Mass pray that we may truly discern our true vocation in life, and like the apostles respond promptly, bravely and generously to God’s call. And after this Mass is over, I would like to invite you to spend a little more time by yourselves to reflect on this amazing gospel story of the calling of the first disciples and see in what way God might also be calling you to follow him or to renew your life and follow him more closely this year.
Finally, for those of you who are strongly devoted to Senyor Santo Nino, and want to complete this novena in his honor, strive to know what true devotion is really all about. It is following the person whom you love most, day by day, day in and day out, spending quality time with him as often as you can, and soon becoming more and more like him. GiGsss!
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