What are you looking for?
Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the Second Sunday of the Ordinary Time
Holy Names Catholic Church
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
January 18, 2009
Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the Second Sunday of the Ordinary Time
Holy Names Catholic Church
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
January 18, 2009
Today’s Gospel presents us with an all important question that we cannot possibly ignore. The desert preacher, John the Baptist continues to tell us about Jesus. Last Sunday being the Baptism of the Lord, he says of Jesus “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.” During the season of Advent, the same John the Baptist says he is the “voice of one crying in the desert” urging us “to make straight the way of the Lord.” Remember that when John was asked by the priests and Levites, “Are you the Messiah?” His response was No! Then he was questioned further, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” Responding to that he said, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me…”
Brethren, today John saw Jesus walked by and quickly pointed out “Behold the Lamb of God.” The word “Behold” means “See”. The word “Behold” or “See” has a connection with the question of Jesus to the two disciples of John that left John to follow him. Today’s Gospel (John 1: 35-42) says as soon as John revealed the identity of Jesus, two of his disciples who heard what he said immediately left him and followed Jesus. But Jesus’ question seems embarrassing. When he saw them coming after him he turned and asked “What are you looking for.?”
One may not be wrong to say that the disciples of John had followed John so that through him they might encounter the Messiah. And one may not be wrong to say that John himself knew the intention of his disciples. They were looking for the Messiah. They were looking for Life; they were in search of everlasting life; they were searching for deliverance and salvation; they were searching for peace, satisfaction and fulfillment. John knew this; therefore, the moment he saw Jesus coming he declares “Behold the Lamb of God?” meaning, see the One you have been looking for; see the Reason you have been following me; see your deepest yearning and heart’s desire. As soon as they heard that, they left John and went after Jesus. They learnt from John that he (John) was not the Messiah. John was a stepping stone to encountering the Lord. John was a guide to find Jesus. These disciples of John, as it were, were desperately looking for Jesus, the Prince of peace.
The question Jesus asked the two disciples of John was an opportunity for them to declare their intention. When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, “What are you looking for?” These disciples have experienced the holiness and the righteousness of John, yet, they were not satisfied. John may be holy; John may be righteous; John may be exemplary; but he is not the source of holiness and righteousness. He is not the origin of all that is good; therefore the need to search further for the Source. John was a good man, but he is not the ultimate good. His disciples wanted to identify with the One who came from heaven- the Son of God. But the question of Jesus may have startled and dumbfounded them. If you notice, they did not answer the question; they dodged it. They rather answered Jesus with another question “Rabbi, where are you staying?”
The question “What are you looking for” was unanswered by the disciples of John. The question appears a simple one, but it is not. I have been asked that question in different fashions by some friends and visitors. Severally, I have been asked “Why did you become a priest?” “What are you looking for in the priesthood” “Does it mean you will not marry and have children”; “Is there any fun in the priesthood”; “How on earth are you doing in this kind of life”; “Don’t you think you are wasting your life”; “Are you happy being a priest”; “Are you permitted to at least have a girlfriend”; “Oh hell, don’t tell me you are a priest, you are too young for that miserable and lonely life?” Like the disciples of John, often times I found myself grappling to answer my questioners. I have variously answered with another question like “Is human life all about marrying and getting married?” But questions like “What are you looking for in the priesthood” and “Why did you become a priest?” are questions I have struggled most to answer.
“What are you looking for?” is a relevant question for all Christians and all people. In those times when life seems like a wilderness and in that wilderness we are simply wandering about, lost most of the time. In our wilderness wandering, the Lord of life, Jesus Christ turns to ask us “What are you looking for?”
Psalm 40 (which is part of today’s Responsorial Psalm) is a prayer of a wanderer like us. It is about waiting and crying and hoping for the redemption of the Lord: “I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry.” It is about being in the pit of destruction, being lost and lonely. But the Lord, out of the mud of the swamp, drew me out and set my feet upon a rock, and then made my steps steady and secure. Psalm 40 is about running around in all directions; it about wandering in a deserted place. But the Psalmist says “Happy are those whose trust is in the Lord, who do not turn to idolatry” (Psalm 40: 5).
Ultimately, Psalm 40 is about being found by God. Lost in the wilderness, we cannot find ourselves. It is God who finds us. It is God who bends down and listens to our cry. Psalm 40 is about a God who finds us even when we are lost. The lost person is lost. He is lost because he cannot find his way. Psalm 40 is about the miracle of being found by God and then listened to by God. God turns towards us like Jesus turns towards those two wandering followers, and ask them a question that paused them “What are you looking for?”
We are looking for faithfulness, salvation and steadfast love. In a world of infidelities, of lies and deceits, the Psalmist tells us that God is a sure foundation, that God is faithful, that he is our Shepherd, he is the one who sets our feet upon a rock making our step secure. The question of Jesus “What are you looking for?” speaks of a wanderer looking for something. It also speaks of being found by the Lord. Lost in the wilderness, God finds us. Jesus turns and asks “What are you looking for?”
- We are looking for a God who is faithful. We are looking for a God who bends down and listens to our cry. We are looking for a God who remembers the forsaken, the lonely people, the abandoned and the helpless. We are looking for a God who listens even to dead people. We are looking for a God who is not silenced and who cannot be silenced by anything. We are looking for a God who listens to the crying blood of those murdered recklessly. Killing someone does not silence their cries to God. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God said to him in Genesis 4:10 “Listen, your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.” We are looking for a God of justice. God hears the cries of injustice from the ground, from the desolate pit.
- We are looking for a God whose steadfast love never ceases. We are looking for a God who says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” We are looking for the One who can never fail us. We are looking for a God who we trust. A God who listens to us; a God will always hear voices that sound like that of Jesus, who said from the cross “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” God listens to all those who are oppressed and marginalized, those trampled upon to the ground.
- Church, what are we looking for? We are looking for a God who is always faithful, who will never forget us even as we wander around, confused and lost. We are looking for a God who is not just faithful to us alone but whose faithfulness “will reach to the ends of the earth.” As a Church, we demonstrate God’s faithfulness by reaching out to others, by making phone calls to our brothers and sisters when we don’t see them again in Church, by asking how they are doing, by inviting them to a fellowship meal. God’s faithfulness is partly demonstrated by us to others- friends, family and strangers.
“What are you looking for?” Jesus asked. For most lovers, it is difficult to tell their beloved what exactly they are looking for from them. The disciples of John did not answer that question, and Jesus himself did not probe further and insist they answer the answer the question. Rather, he offered them an invitation of love and experience of love “Come and see.”
*Are you hungry and thirsty? the Lord says to you, “Come and see.”
Are you sick? He says to you as well “Come and see”.
Whatever your life situation may be, the invitation of Jesus to you today is “Come and see.” As it is said in Latin Veni, vidi, vici meaning “I came, I saw, I conquered.” With Jesus by your side, you will come, see, and conquer all your troubles.
May Mother Mary pray for us!
May St. Alfonsus Ligouri intercede for us!
Brethren, today John saw Jesus walked by and quickly pointed out “Behold the Lamb of God.” The word “Behold” means “See”. The word “Behold” or “See” has a connection with the question of Jesus to the two disciples of John that left John to follow him. Today’s Gospel (John 1: 35-42) says as soon as John revealed the identity of Jesus, two of his disciples who heard what he said immediately left him and followed Jesus. But Jesus’ question seems embarrassing. When he saw them coming after him he turned and asked “What are you looking for.?”
One may not be wrong to say that the disciples of John had followed John so that through him they might encounter the Messiah. And one may not be wrong to say that John himself knew the intention of his disciples. They were looking for the Messiah. They were looking for Life; they were in search of everlasting life; they were searching for deliverance and salvation; they were searching for peace, satisfaction and fulfillment. John knew this; therefore, the moment he saw Jesus coming he declares “Behold the Lamb of God?” meaning, see the One you have been looking for; see the Reason you have been following me; see your deepest yearning and heart’s desire. As soon as they heard that, they left John and went after Jesus. They learnt from John that he (John) was not the Messiah. John was a stepping stone to encountering the Lord. John was a guide to find Jesus. These disciples of John, as it were, were desperately looking for Jesus, the Prince of peace.
The question Jesus asked the two disciples of John was an opportunity for them to declare their intention. When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, “What are you looking for?” These disciples have experienced the holiness and the righteousness of John, yet, they were not satisfied. John may be holy; John may be righteous; John may be exemplary; but he is not the source of holiness and righteousness. He is not the origin of all that is good; therefore the need to search further for the Source. John was a good man, but he is not the ultimate good. His disciples wanted to identify with the One who came from heaven- the Son of God. But the question of Jesus may have startled and dumbfounded them. If you notice, they did not answer the question; they dodged it. They rather answered Jesus with another question “Rabbi, where are you staying?”
The question “What are you looking for” was unanswered by the disciples of John. The question appears a simple one, but it is not. I have been asked that question in different fashions by some friends and visitors. Severally, I have been asked “Why did you become a priest?” “What are you looking for in the priesthood” “Does it mean you will not marry and have children”; “Is there any fun in the priesthood”; “How on earth are you doing in this kind of life”; “Don’t you think you are wasting your life”; “Are you happy being a priest”; “Are you permitted to at least have a girlfriend”; “Oh hell, don’t tell me you are a priest, you are too young for that miserable and lonely life?” Like the disciples of John, often times I found myself grappling to answer my questioners. I have variously answered with another question like “Is human life all about marrying and getting married?” But questions like “What are you looking for in the priesthood” and “Why did you become a priest?” are questions I have struggled most to answer.
“What are you looking for?” is a relevant question for all Christians and all people. In those times when life seems like a wilderness and in that wilderness we are simply wandering about, lost most of the time. In our wilderness wandering, the Lord of life, Jesus Christ turns to ask us “What are you looking for?”
Psalm 40 (which is part of today’s Responsorial Psalm) is a prayer of a wanderer like us. It is about waiting and crying and hoping for the redemption of the Lord: “I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry.” It is about being in the pit of destruction, being lost and lonely. But the Lord, out of the mud of the swamp, drew me out and set my feet upon a rock, and then made my steps steady and secure. Psalm 40 is about running around in all directions; it about wandering in a deserted place. But the Psalmist says “Happy are those whose trust is in the Lord, who do not turn to idolatry” (Psalm 40: 5).
Ultimately, Psalm 40 is about being found by God. Lost in the wilderness, we cannot find ourselves. It is God who finds us. It is God who bends down and listens to our cry. Psalm 40 is about a God who finds us even when we are lost. The lost person is lost. He is lost because he cannot find his way. Psalm 40 is about the miracle of being found by God and then listened to by God. God turns towards us like Jesus turns towards those two wandering followers, and ask them a question that paused them “What are you looking for?”
We are looking for faithfulness, salvation and steadfast love. In a world of infidelities, of lies and deceits, the Psalmist tells us that God is a sure foundation, that God is faithful, that he is our Shepherd, he is the one who sets our feet upon a rock making our step secure. The question of Jesus “What are you looking for?” speaks of a wanderer looking for something. It also speaks of being found by the Lord. Lost in the wilderness, God finds us. Jesus turns and asks “What are you looking for?”
- We are looking for a God who is faithful. We are looking for a God who bends down and listens to our cry. We are looking for a God who remembers the forsaken, the lonely people, the abandoned and the helpless. We are looking for a God who listens even to dead people. We are looking for a God who is not silenced and who cannot be silenced by anything. We are looking for a God who listens to the crying blood of those murdered recklessly. Killing someone does not silence their cries to God. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God said to him in Genesis 4:10 “Listen, your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.” We are looking for a God of justice. God hears the cries of injustice from the ground, from the desolate pit.
- We are looking for a God whose steadfast love never ceases. We are looking for a God who says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” We are looking for the One who can never fail us. We are looking for a God who we trust. A God who listens to us; a God will always hear voices that sound like that of Jesus, who said from the cross “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” God listens to all those who are oppressed and marginalized, those trampled upon to the ground.
- Church, what are we looking for? We are looking for a God who is always faithful, who will never forget us even as we wander around, confused and lost. We are looking for a God who is not just faithful to us alone but whose faithfulness “will reach to the ends of the earth.” As a Church, we demonstrate God’s faithfulness by reaching out to others, by making phone calls to our brothers and sisters when we don’t see them again in Church, by asking how they are doing, by inviting them to a fellowship meal. God’s faithfulness is partly demonstrated by us to others- friends, family and strangers.
“What are you looking for?” Jesus asked. For most lovers, it is difficult to tell their beloved what exactly they are looking for from them. The disciples of John did not answer that question, and Jesus himself did not probe further and insist they answer the answer the question. Rather, he offered them an invitation of love and experience of love “Come and see.”
*Are you hungry and thirsty? the Lord says to you, “Come and see.”
Are you sick? He says to you as well “Come and see”.
Whatever your life situation may be, the invitation of Jesus to you today is “Come and see.” As it is said in Latin Veni, vidi, vici meaning “I came, I saw, I conquered.” With Jesus by your side, you will come, see, and conquer all your troubles.
May Mother Mary pray for us!
May St. Alfonsus Ligouri intercede for us!
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