January 16, 2000 -- 2nd Sunday "B"

Makkiyad - Kerala, India

1 Samuel 3,3-10.19; Cor. 6, 13-15. 17-20

H O M I L Y

We have, in today's readings, two biblical figures that are, each one in its own way, examples of listening to God, or waiting on God, and therefore models for Christians in general and for monks and nuns in particular. They are Samuel and John the Baptist.

Samuel is a young man who lives in the Temple, a man therefore whose whole life is dedicated to God's service, and who has made himself the disciple of the priest Eli, in order to learn from him the ways of the Lord. Samuel is a beautiful example of availability or readiness to serve. As soon as he hears his name called, he answers right away "Here I am", then he runs to Eli and repeats "Here I am. You called me?"

If you ask a person: "Will you do me a favor?" there are two ways of response you can get. Some people say right away "certainly!". Which does not necessarily mean that they will do it! At least their first movement is to be available. Others are prudent persons. They say "... depends... tell me what it is about..." They don't want to say yes before knowing what they are going to commit themselves to. Samuel says without hesitation: "Here I am". If Samuel did not know from the start that it was God calling him, it was because he "was not familiar with the Lord... yet". Which means that the more we become familiar with the Lord through constant prayer, through constant listening, the more we will recognize his voice.

John the Baptist is also, like Samuel, a boy who grew up in the Temple. He does not exist for himself, but for the Messiah, whose herald he is called to be. He has been listening for years; and therefore when the Lord comes he can recognize him. And because he has been living for the Lord, he is detached. He does not cling to anything or anyone, not even to his disciples. He sends them to Jesus. He simply tells them "Look! There is the lamb of God!" And they leave John right away, in order to follow Jesus.

The dialogue of these disciples with Jesus, as recorded by John several decades later, is very poignant in its simplicity. At first, they just follow Jesus. Then he asked them "What are you looking for?" Instead of answering that question, they simply ask "Rabbi, where do you stay?" Which means: we are not looking for anyone or anything. What we were looking for, we have found it. -- "Come and see, he says". And at this point there is, in John's narrative, a very moving line: "It was about four in the afternoon". It is one of those precious memories we have of the details of the context in which we have met a dear friend for the first time... Like an old couple or two friends who speak of their first meeting several years later saying: "It was at that place, in that restaurant, in that street corner, at four in the afternoon!"

Then, in the same way as John sent them to the Messiah, they want to share with others what they have found. Andrew went to seek out his brother Simon and told him: "We have found the Messiah!" And Jesus will tell him: "You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas".

When Pope Paul VI went to Jerusalem in January 1964 and met with Patriarch Athenagoras, the Patriarch gave him as a memorial of his visit an icon made especially for him, on which we see the two brothers Andrew and Peter embracing each other. Since the week of prayer for Christian Unity will begin in a few days, let us pray to be always attentive to God's voice in our lives. And in order not to miss it, let us develop the ability always to respond "Here I am", when we are asked for help. Let us also pray for the grace of leading each other to Christ.