2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Cycle B
January 14,
2018
Cashier: “What Are You Looking For?”
This
past summer, I went to the New Jersey shore for two days.
A
priest friend had invited another priest and me to visit at his family home in
Brigantine. Jim had given us directions,
but, let’s just say, once we got off the New Jersey Turnpike, the roads got very
confusing.
So, we
pulled into an Exxon station and I went into the Tiger Mart. I walked up to the cashier and said, “Pardon me, but I need some directions.”
The guy
looked up and responded, “What are you
looking for?” Within 30 seconds, I
had the directions and we were on our way.
Jesus: “What
Are You Looking For?”
I
recall that cashier’s question – “What
are you looking for?” – I recall it today because it is the same question
Jesus asks in today’s gospel.
And
very significantly, these are the very first words Jesus speaks in John’s
gospel. Jesus is posing this question to
the two disciples who have started to follow him.
And
today, Jesus is asking the same question of each of us: “What are you looking for?” Because
of its position in the gospel, this must be a very important question.
What Are We Looking For?
If we look within
ourselves and at our own life experience, we probably have responded to this
question in various ways.
We might be
looking for a feeling of self-esteem or self-worth. Or maybe it is a feeling of acceptance or
belonging to some group.
We might be
looking for the opportunity to make a difference in the life of at least
someone. Or maybe it is financial
security or success in school or on a basketball team or at your job,
All of these
things that we might be looking for are good and legitimate. At the same time, they are limited and not
the full picture.
To the two disciples
in today’s gospel, Jesus says: “Come and
you will see.” In other words, he
invites them to focus on himself because in doing that, they will discover what
they are really looking for.
And then, in the
dialogue involving the disciples in this passage, we hear three titles given to
Jesus. These titles reveal something of
who Jesus is and in doing that, they also reveal what we are really looking
for.
What Are We Looking For: The Three Titles
First, Jesus is called “the Lamb of
God.” This title refers to the image
of the Passover lamb that was offered each year as a way to celebrate what God
had done for his people and God’s closeness with them.
So, Jesus as “the Lamb of God”
satisfies our looking for closeness and intimacy with God. He satisfies our looking for acceptance and
belonging on a level that no other person can do for us.
Then, Jesus is called “’Rabbi’ –
which means Teacher.” This title
means that Jesus offers wisdom and even the definitive word about God and the
human condition.
So, Jesus as “Rabbi” satisfies
our looking for insight and truth and the way to become the person God creates
us to be. He satisfies our looking for a
sense of direction and meaning and purpose for our lives.
And finally, Jesus is called “’Messiah’
– which means Christ.” This title
means that Jesus fulfills the hope that has been around for centuries before
his coming, the hope for a leader for God’s people.
So, Jesus as “Messiah”
satisfies our looking for hope in the midst of physical pain, emotional suffering,
or anxiety about the future. And, as
these first two disciples would learn, he even satisfies our looking for hope
in the face of physical death.
Conclusion
We end where we began: “What are
you looking for?”
At different moments and in different situations, we are all looking for
various things in life. And all of these
can be good.
But, underneath and beyond all of these, in the big picture and long run
of life, we are really looking for closeness and acceptance, meaning and
direction, and hope for life. We are
looking for Jesus and what only Jesus can give.
