What Are You Looking For?
John 1:35-42
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by 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 are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So 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 Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own 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, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
Friends, our Gospel reading today is from John chapter 1, verses 35-42, and again, John the beloved disciple writes about John the Baptist proclaiming and testifying that this young prophet—Jesus of Nazareth who is the Messiah is also the Lamb of God. But this time, the Baptizer is hanging out with two of his disciples and in a moment of what appears to be sheer abruption, these two disciples decide that now, they are going to be disciples of Jesus.
Jesus’ question to the two young men—"What are you looking for?"—is an indispensably important one. Many people go through life not really knowing what they most fundamentally want, and accordingly, they drift. Maybe that’s true even for you. I mean what do we think we want and what do we fundamentally want? There could be a drastic difference.
Now, for the carnal minded, there is a wanton desire of fame, sex, power, money, and success, and why? Because unbeknownst to them, though they may be carnal-minded, like the spiritual-minded, we all really want the same thing—happiness. We all deep down want to be happy. Even if someone said, “well I am seeking pleasure not happiness.” Well, guess what? You are still desiring happiness because where does self-seeking pleasure aim? Personal happiness.
Now, other people may know more or less what they want spiritually, but they lack the courage and attention to pursue that end in the face of distractions and opposition. They know that they should be growing by His grace at work within us into holiness, but the secular culture proposes sex, pleasure, power, and honor so attractively, that they lose their way. Or perhaps they receive withering criticism from those who are stuck in the carnal minded way of life, and they give in to that pressure.
The correct answer to Jesus’ question could be "eternal life" or the “kingdom of God" or “life with God." This is the simple, clear, unambiguous articulation of the end goal that any believer should have as he or she endeavors to follow Christ with his or her life. “Come and see,” Jesus says. Friends, allow this season of Lent to be a season of refreshing for your soul. Have you been off track, seeking the things that ultimately leave you wanting more? Are you looking for something in your job or your hobbies; maybe looking for satisfaction which means you’re seeking to find your happiness in the trappings of the world rather than finding your happiness in the kingdom of God—finding happiness in Jesus Himself.
We easily get off track when we take our eyes off Jesus. Jesus said, “Come and see.” This implies that one, we can follow him, and two, we can watch the Lord at work—at work in those around us—at work in us, in you. Instead of wanting money because you think it will bring you happiness—give it to something that is “life-giving” for someone else or to a ministry, or to the Church, and find happiness by giving. Instead of wanting success for your own glory, get on your knees before God and seek him and his glory in prayer, and then you will know true happiness. Instead of wanting pleasure from the things of this world because you think they will satisfy you, give it up and fast from something that will help you to be more aware of how easily controlled we are by things that pleasure us. Make that sacrifice for the Lord and let him richly bless you, enabling you to rely on his own strength given to us through baptism and the Eucharist. Allow him to heal you. Allow him to heal your soul. Allow him to renew your spirit. In Jesus, we will lack nothing.
“Look for Christ and you will find Him. And with Him, everything else.” – C.S. Lewis
What are we looking for?
Pax Christi
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