Today’s Gospel Text: The next day again John was
standing with two of his disciples; 36 and he looked at Jesus as he
walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say
this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them
following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to
him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you
staying?" 39 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. 40 One of the two who heard John
speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother
Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means
Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus
looked at him, and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be
called Cephas" (which means Peter). John
1:35-42
Reflection: Just
a little while ago I received a phone call from a friend who shared of how their two year old pet died
and the family is in tears of missing the dear one and every look at the empty
cage leads to more pain and agony.
As
we grow through life we often grow in attachment to things, to peoples, to pet ideas and the
many activities of life.
The
secret of attachment is familiarity and comfort, security and momentary peace,
the filling up of a deep inner void and emptiness.
The
important or the precious things of life gain greater meaning and affection than
the lesser things of life. Here the greater
and the lesser is each ones subjective interpretation of things.
How
difficult it is to let go of someone so close and dear to us, at times it fills
us with such a big void and vacuum that we begin to wonder how we will every
live without the other. It is painful
and often the pain sets the lachrymal glands to over work.
It could
be much easier to give what is not yours and to be detached from it.
In the
Gospel text we have John the Baptist with two of his disciples and yet he lets
go of them so easily; an act of perfect detachment for a cause which is noble and true.
Nothing
is more important for a perfect disciple than to see how his master is pleased
and at the same time carrying the genuine concern for their own. We could have Masters who could sacrifice someone
else’s life and can be perfectly detached from others for their self gain.
If
only, each one knew why they are on this earth, to please whom; whether
self, others or God, then they would not be holding on to things material or
abstract, neither to individuals nor to pets.
What
is more they will lead those, who are with them, with godly wisdom and help and
encourage them to seek God’s glory rather than their own glory.
Prayer:
"The Lord is
my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lam
3:24
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Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
