Sunday 14 January 2024

Today is Sunday the 14th of January, beginning the second week of Ordinary time.

One Hope Project sings, ‘Romans 5:8’. As you listen, how can you behold the lamb of God in prayer today?

It's the blood of the lamb with power to save
None too lost, none too broken, none too distant to be healed by the blood




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 1:35-42

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

In our reading today Jesus asks John’s disciples: ‘What are you looking for?’
I imagine Jesus asking me the same question.
What would I say to Jesus? What am I looking for?
Jesus says to the disciples ‘Come and See’.
In what ways have I responded to that invitation?
What have I discovered as I’ve walked with Jesus?
How have I changed or grown?
What does Jesus see when he looks at me?
I imagine him calling my name just like he called Andrew and Simon Peter.
Who is he calling me to become?

As I hear the story again, I imagine myself going with the disciples to spend the afternoon in the home of Jesus. What is this experience like?

I conclude this time of prayer by continuing to imagine myself sitting with Jesus as we enjoy each other’s company.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.